Declan Rice and Morgan Rogers came to blows in Arsenal’s victory over Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
Both sides had been impressive to start the campaign, with both teams winning their two opening games of the season. It was Arsenal who preserved their 100% winning record as they overcame an early deficit to win 2-1.
Chelsea raced out of the blocks and took the lead inside the opening two minutes when Rogers’ low shot from outside the box found the corner of the net.
Arsenal battled back and eventually won 2-1 thanks to goals either side of half-time from Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard.
Verdict Cast on Rice vs Rogers Incident
There was a heated moment in the second half between Rice and Rogers. The Chelsea midfielder was left incensed after he was tripped by his England teammate when the Blues were on the attack.
After Cole Palmer blazed over the bar and the play fizzled out, Rogers got off his feet and angrily confronted Rice. Rogers was given a yellow card for his behaviour while Rice escaped punishment.
Arsenal fans inside the Emirates Stadium teased Rogers following the incident, chanting: “You should have signed for a big club.”
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has now given his thoughts on the incident. He said that, as well as Rogers, Rice should have been given yellow card, but because Kavanagh did not see the incident, VAR couldn’t intervene.
“Morgan Rogers made a great run through the middle and was tracked by Declan Rice – who clearly tripped him,” Halsey told the Sun. “It was unseen by referee Chris Kavanagh and Morgan Rogers wasn’t happy.
“He went for Declan Rice and ended up getting a yellow card for adopting an aggressive attitude towards Rice. Declan Rice should have got the yellow card in the first place, which went unseen.
“Unfortunately, VAR cannot get involved in cautionary offenses, but you would have thought the assistant on that side may have seen it and may have helped him.
“It was unfortunate that Rogers got the yellow card, but with the aggressive attitude towards Rice, that’s the way it is.”
Halsey Gives Verdict on Gabriel Kicking Emiliano Martinez
There was also a controversial moment in the first half when Gabriel kicked Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in the face. Gabril escaped any punishment and Halsey thinks the correct decision was made.
He said: “Now, is that an act of violent conduct or is it, was it just, was it like normal contact? Yes, for me, I think there’s a doubt there to whether it was violent conduct, only Gabriel will know if he deliberately kicked Martinez.
“But for me, without a doubt, it’s not violent conduct because everybody’s in there. And he’s got a right to go for the ball and because they’re all on the floor, that’s why he’s caught Martinez in the head. So I think it’s correct that VAR never got involved.”
