Arsenal's winning start to the Premier League season is over as the 2023/24 Runners-up were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion in the aftermath of a controversial red card to Declan Rice here at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Arsenal got off to a bright start - with only one change in their starting lineup as Leandro Trossard came in for the out-of-form Gabriel Martinelli - and started testing the Brighton defense from the opening minute.
Ben White's early attempt was blocked by the arm of Lewis Dunk but a penalty was not awarded after VAR adjudged that the player's arm was in a natural position.
After Brighton finally got hold of the game and dominated possession in the second half of the opening 45 minutes following on from the Gunners' repeated attacks, a clearance by Jurrien Timber fell to Bukayo Saka. He lofted the ball to Kai Havertz, who stole in and delicately lifted the ball over the head of Bart Verbruggen from outside the area into the net to give Arsenal the lead going into half-time.
The assist from Bukayo Saka means the forward has contributed four goals in their three league games thus far this season.
Disaster struck for Arsenal in the second half when Declan Rice gave away a free kick by the corner flag, then nudged the ball away before Joel Veltman could take it. Referee Chris Kavanagh deemed it a second yellow card for timewasting and dismissed the England midfielder. This was Declan Rice's first-ever red card in his senior career.
Reduced to ten men for virtually half the game, it also means Rice will be suspended for the north London derby after the international break.
By the end of 15 minutes after his red card, Brighton had leveled.
Arsenal then spent the rest of the game having to soak up pressure, but Havertz had a great chance on the break from a long Gabriel clearance. He took the ball superbly on the run, but his low shot was stopped by Verbruggen, and Saka's follow-up was charged down.
Later, a brilliant squared ball by Havertz found Bukayo Saka, but the angle was too tight, making it hard for Saka to get more behind his shot, which was saved by the goalkeeper.
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