Brighton ended Arsenal‘s successful begin to the brand new Premier League season with a 1-1 draw on the Emirates on Saturday, with the house facet holding on for some extent after Declan Rice‘s controversial second-half sending off.
Arsenal dominated the primary half and deservedly lead on the interval after Kai Havertz completed brilliantly within the thirty eighth minute, having been performed in expertly by Bukayo Saka.
Nevertheless, 4 minutes into the second half, Arsenal’s activity was made all of the tougher when Rice was despatched off after selecting up a second yellow card for delaying a Brighton free kick by kicking the ball away.
The choice enraged the house crowd who had anticipated Brighton defender Joël Veltman to be punished for kicking Rice because the Arsenal midfielder tapped the ball out of his path.
Brazilian striker Joao Pedro fired Brighton degree 12 minutes later.
Either side missed presentable probabilities to win the competition late on, however they every needed to accept some extent.
“We began the sport rather well,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta instructed TNT Sports activities. “We scored the aim, 1-0. We began the second half actually good however then there’s the choice that adjustments the sport fully.
“If it [second yellow card] occurs all through the sport in a constant approach it’s superb nevertheless it did not. It’s the inconsistency.”
After narrowly lacking out on their first Premier League title since 2004 final season, Arsenal had began the brand new time period in good trend.
With champions Manchester City additionally coming into this weekend’s fixtures with two wins from two in the beginning of the brand new season, Arsenal know any slip-up, even this early within the marketing campaign, may very well be pricey.
They seemed to be course to take care of their 100% document after a dominant first-half show. Skipper Martin Ødegaard ought to have scored earlier within the opening levels earlier than Havertz scored his second of the marketing campaign.
Rice’s second yellow turned the tide within the guests’ favour.
Since Boxing Day 2019 — Mikel Arteta’s first recreation accountable for the membership — Arsenal have been proven 16 pink playing cards within the Premier League, no less than three greater than another facet. Nevertheless it was Rice’s first pink in his 245th Premier League look.
Following his last-gasp winner towards Manchester United final weekend, Pedro reacted first after Yankuba Minteh‘s shot had been saved to drag Brighton degree, and the sport opened up thereafter.
Saka may have snatched the win late on, whereas Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya needed to be at his greatest on a number of events to maintain Brighton from incomes all three factors, however each appeared content material with a draw after an exhilarating tussle.
“We did not create sufficient probabilities after they went right down to 10 males, however we are going to go away and have a look at it,” Brighton captain Lewis Dunk stated.
“We all the time imagine we will win any recreation of soccer. We’re in a great place and we all know we will beat anyone.”