Peter Crouch and Martin Keown expressed frustration at Declan Rice's controversial red card against Brighton and insisted the Arsenal star's actions are 'not a sending off offence'.

Rice was given his early marching orders in the opening exchanges of the second half after he kicked the ball away following a kick in the leg from Brighton full-back Joel Veltman. 

Arsenal fans at the Emirates rose to demand Veltman be sent off for his wild swing at Rice, but it was the Gunners midfielder who found himself being dismissed for a second yellow card.

Rice had already been correctly booked for a wild lunge in the first-half and was booked again when he kicked the ball away from Veltman that was viewed as an attempt at timewasting by referee Chris Kavanagh.

Arsenal players and manager Mikel Arteta fumed at the decision and inconsistencies in punishing similar foul play throughout the match, with club legend Keown echoing his displeasure after the match.

Martin Keown was furious as he slammed Declan Rice 's controversial red card against Brighton

'I know that Declan actually knocks the ball away. Well, look, why is Veltman just knocking this ball into Rice's path, and where is, where's he supposed to go?,' he told TNT Sports. 

'By the way, I actually feel as well. It's almost like a free punt. Okay, I do know what I'll do somebody as well at the same time. So the referee, I know the principle of this new law. 

'They want to move people away from the ball, but it's also responsibility to keep 11 players, both sets of 11 players, on the pitch and I don't really feel that that is a sending off offence,' he added.

Keown continued to irk his annoyance when speaking with Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler after the 1-1 draw and attempting to convince the Seagulls boss that Rice should have stayed on the pitch.

Meanwhile, Peter Crouch accepted that Rice should have been booked for kicking the ball away after he was kicked, but criticised Brighton's Veltman for antagonising the Arsenal player.

'Listen, everyone who's played football and came in football understands what's happened there. Veltman has quite simply played the referee. I mean, is no, he's absolutely no way,' he said.

'He's trying to play a pass 60 yards to nobody. He's literally trying to get Declan Rice. We know he's on yellow card. It's worked. And that's been the that's been the difference in the game. 

'Having said that, Declan Rice does nick the ball away and to the letter of the law that is a yellow card. So Veltman there's a bit of housery involved and Veltman definitely played the referee. 

'But having said that, he probably has to go because he does nick the ball away,' added Crouch.