Arsenal had to settle for a 1-1 draw in their Premier League home meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion after they played the majority of the second period with 10 men following Declan Rice's red card.
The Gunners appeared to be in the driving seat after Kai Havertz lobbed Bart Verbruggen to send the hosts into the break with a slender advantage.
However, the complexion of the contest completely changed when Rice was shown the first red card of his career following two bookable offences.
The England international received his second yellow for kicking the ball away, but eyebrows were raised that Joel Veltman escaped punishment for kicking through Rice in the same incident.
Fresh from his late winner against Manchester United, Joao Pedro sent the Brighton support into raptures when he pounced on a rebound to guide home the all-important equaliser.
Both teams threatened to score a winner with Havertz and Bukayo Saka forcing Verbruggen into action, while Raya made a desperate top to deny Jan Paul van Hecke.
The two sides ultimately had to settle for a share of the spoils, ending Arsenal and Brighton's 100% start to the new season.
As a result of the draw, Mikel Arteta's side have dropped points at home for just the second time in 2024, while Brighton have now avoided in four of their last five away games against Arsenal.
ARSENAL VS. BRIGHTON HIGHLIGHTS
Havertz goal vs. Brighton (38th min, Arsenal 1-0 Brighton)
Kai Havertz, that is a beautiful finish 😮💨
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 31, 2024
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Arsenal find the breakthrough. Saka gets to the ball ahead of Lewis Dunk before playing a perfectly-weighted through pass to Havertz. The German calmly lifts the ball over the onrushing Verbruggen to net his second goal of the season.
Rice red card vs. Brighton (49th min, Arsenal 1-0 Brighton)
Declan Rice can't believe it as he's sent off for kicking the ball away 😳
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 31, 2024
📺 Watch Arsenal vs. Brighton live on @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/E44NGyfjHz
The hosts are down to 10 men. Rice gives away a soft free kick on Veltman before he flicks the ball away. The midfielder is shown a second yellow for delaying the restart. Veltman is perhaps fortunate not to follow Rice down the tunnel after kicking through the England international.
Pedro scores vs. Arsenal (58th min, Arsenal 1-1 Brighton)
Right place, right time 🎯
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 31, 2024
João Pedro slots home the leveller against 10-men Arsenal 👀
📺 Watch Arsenal vs. Brighton live on @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/MnSXgjKstf
The Seagulls waste little time in making full use of the numerical advantage. Minteh is sent through on goal by Dunk's defence-splitting pass. The summer signing is denied by Raya, but Pedro is on hand to fire home the rebound.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JOAO PEDRO
© Imago
Pedro's finish may have been a relatively simple one but like a true goalscorer, he was in the right place at the right time to net his second goal of the season.
In addition to his crucial equaliser, the Brazilian represented Brighton's main attacking outlet and always looked like he could trouble the Arsenal backline at any given moment.
While Pedro is our Man of the Match, Saka was certainly under consideration after providing an assist and posing a constant threat throughout the contest.
ARSENAL VS. BRIGHTON MATCH STATS
Possession: Arsenal 36%-64% Brighton
Shots: Arsenal 11-22 Brighton
Shots on target: Arsenal 7-4 Brighton
Corners: Arsenal 3-7 Brighton
Fouls: Arsenal 12-7 Brighton
BEST STATS
3 - Bukayo Saka is the first Arsenal player to provide an assist in each of the first three games of a Premier League season since Thierry Henry in 2004-05. Footsteps. #ARSBHA pic.twitter.com/9H61JlS1E2
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 31, 2024
1 – In his 245th Premier League appearance, Declan Rice has been shown a red card in the competition for the first time. Bizarre. #ARSBHA pic.twitter.com/3zGy3erdxJ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 31, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
The Premier League will now pause for the international break before Arsenal and Brighton return to action in a couple of weeks.
Arsenal will face North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on September 15, while the Seagulls will play host to newly-promoted Ipswich Town on September 14.
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