10-man Arsenal held on to draw at home to Brighton on Saturday in a fiery encounter in north London.
Kai Havertz gave Arsenal a deserved lead in the first half but then Declan Rice was shown a second yellow card at the start of the second half as the game swung in Brighton’s favor.
The excellent Joao Pedro equalized soon after but Arsenal actually had the better chances as Havertz and Bukayo Saka both went close.
The draw means that both teams are on seven points after three games each.
Rice red card correct as Gunners boil over
The pivotal moment in this game arrived early in the second half as Declan Rice was shown a second yellow for stopping Joel Veltman taking a quick free kick and even if the ball was still moving, slightly, the decision to book him was correct. Veltman was lucky as the way he kicked Rice was overly aggressive. Yes, Joao Pedro should have been booked for doing the same thing but was let off, irking Arsenal. Still, Brighton had achieved their aim of rattling Arsenal and the game had been simmering throughout the first half with late tackles flying in and a real edge to it. After a trademark rampant start from Arsenal, the only way Brighton could get back in the game and break the rhythm was to be combative. It worked and Arsenal, especially Rice, took the bait. They’ll have to control their emotions better moving forward and especially in huge games against Tottenham and Man City coming up.
Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com you can see Pedro had a fine game for Brighton, while Saka and Havertz were excellent for Arsenal, even when the Gunners went down to 10 players.
What’s next?
Arsenal play at Tottenham on Sunday, September 15 in a massive derby. Brighton host Ipswich the day before.
How to watch Arsenal vs Brighton live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7:30am ET Saturday (August 31)
Venue: Emirates Stadium
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Watch live online via NBC.com
Arsenal vs Brighton final score: 1-1
Havertz 38'; Pedro 58'
Arsenal vs Brighton live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Ayari denied; Saka has a great chance on the counter
First Ayari has a shot on goal which is stopped by Raya as he puts the ball right where the Arsenal goalkeeper was. A cross on the counter attack from Havertz finds Saka, but he’s stretching and his shot is tame.
Havertz and Saka go close
A long ball upfield sees Havertz chase it down and his low strike is saved by Verbruggen, then the rebound finds Saka but he’s under pressure and his shot is blocked.
Brighton equalize through Joao Pedro! - Arsenal 1-1 Brighton (58th minute)
Oh wow. The momentum of this game has swung massively. Dunk’s ball over the top is perfect for Minteh and his shot is saved by Raya. The rebound is tucked home by Joao Pedro and the away fans go wild. In the space of 10 minutes this game has been turned on its head.
Declan Rice has been sent off at the start of the second half!
Oh no. Nightmare for Arsenal. Declan Rice stopped Joel Veltman taking a quick free kick and the Brighton player kicked him as he followed through. Rice is handed a second yellow card, correctly, but Veltman probably should have been sent off for the way he kicked Rice as he knew he wasn’t going to connect with the ball. Chaos. Mikel Arteta looks far from happy as he didn’t speak to Rice as he came off. Rice will now miss the north London derby against Tottenham on Sunday, September 15.
Half time: Arsenal 1-0 Brighton
The Gunners were all over Brighton early but it took them a while to break through as Havertz superbly lobbed home. Still, lots of yellows and hefty challenges flying in. Brighton are hanging in there but Arsenal deservedly ahead at the break.
Trossard has a low shot saved
Another long ball over the top catches Brighton out and this time Trossard cuts inside from the left but his low shot is saved. All of that came after a feisty few minutes as Rice was booked for catching Veltman, then Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler was also booked for his reaction. This has been a ‘proper tasty’ first half.
Havertz’s goalscoring form has been sensational
In this last nine Premier League games at home, Havertz has now scored seven times and added three assists. What a comeback story this has been for Havertz.
Kai Havertz puts Arsenal ahead! - Arsenal 1-0 Brighton (39th minute)
A hopeful ball forward drops to Lewis Dunk but Bukayo Saka does so well to put him off and then play in Kai Havertz. The German striker still had a lot to do but he lobs Bart Verbruggen and gives the Gunners the lead. Based on this first half, they deserve it. But that was calamitous from Dunk.
Decent chance for Mitoma
Brighton have grown into this game and a cross is half-cleared by Havertz and the ball drops to Mitoma who volleys across goal but it goes wide. The injury to Milner (he was replaced by Ayari) and Odegaard needing treatment has disrupted the flow of this game. That suited Brighton as Arsenal have lost their rhythm a little.
Great chance for Odegaard
A cross from the left find Martin Odegaard totally unmarked but he seems surprised the ball got to him and hits a tame finish straight at Verbruggen. Big chance.
Saka smashes straight at Verbruggen
A lovely lob over the top from Odegaard finds Saka but his tame shot is straight at Verbruggen. Ben White’s shot then hits Lewis Dunk in the arm and deflects wide. Arsenal are absolutely battering Brighton.
Lively start from Arsenal
Everything is coming down Arsenal’s right wing, as it often does, as Bukayo Saka dances into the box and his shot is blocked at the near post. The Gunners have come flying out of the traps.
Arsenal lineup
One change for Arsenal as Leandro Trossard comes in for Gabriel Martinelli.
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel Timber; Partey, Odegaard, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Trossard
Brighton lineup
The Seagulls make two changes with Verbruggen starting in goal and Baleba replacing Gilmour, who signed for Napoli, in midfield.
Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Hinshelwood; Milner, Baleba; Minteh, Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck
Arsenal focus, team news
The Gunners will be without the trio of Tomiyasu, Tierney and Jesus through injury. While new signing Mikel Merino is out with a freak shoulder injury suffered in training so he won’t be around in central midfield for the next few weeks, at least. Leandro Trossard could start on the left ahead of Gabriel Martinelli after jumping off the bench to score the crucial opener at Villa last time out.
OUT: Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Kieran Tierney (thigh), Gabriel Jesus (hip), Mikel Merino (shoulder)
Brighton focus, team news
Brighton have spent big on some top new talent but one of their marquee signings was injured just a few minutes into his debut against Crawley Town in midweek, with Matt O’Riley needing ankle surgery. That is a blow for Hurzeler but he has plenty of other players now back from injury and has a wealth of options in midfield and attack. Danny Welbeck loves a goal against one of his former clubs.
OUT: Solly March (knee), Matthew O’Riley (ankle) | QUESTIONABLE: Brajan Gruda (other), Mats Wieffer (knock)
Arsenal vs Brighton prediction
This feels like it will be a fun game and Arsenal may have to embrace the chaos to get chances to open Brighton up. They will want to control the tempo, and they should, but this won’t be easy for the Gunners as they’ll just edge it. Arsenal 2-1 Brighton.