Arsenal vs Brighton LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Declan Rice controversially sent off
Arsenal 1-1 Brighton: The game turned on Rice’s red card as Joao Pedro equalised for the visitors
Arsenal dropped crucial points in the Premier League as Brighton claimed a draw at the Emirates following Declan Rice’s controversial red card.
With new signing Raheem Sterling watch on from the stands following his loan from Chelsea, Kai Havertz broke the deadlock with a lobbed finish before half-time
But Arsenal’s advantage was lost as Rice was sent off for a second yellow card after half time, as the midfielder kicked the ball away when Brighton’s Joel Veltman prepared to take a free-kick.
The Seagulls then equalised as Joao Pedro fired into an empty net after David Raya saved from Yankuba Minteh.
Both sides had chances to extend their winning starts to the season, with Havertz and Bukayo Saka missing golden opportunities on the counter-attack, while Raya had a big save to deny Yasin Ayari.
Follow all the action in the live blog below:
Hurzeler speaks to MOTD
Hurzeler is understandably the happier of the two managers.
“In the end you are one man plus so you always want to win the game. We had chances on our side but Arsenal also had two big chances,” he said.
“First of all he shoots the ball away so it is a clear yellow card, it changes the momentum of the game,” he added.
“We started to control the game and then the goal happens out of nowhere. We didn’t defend it well, the red card changed the game for sure. We wanted to win, we didn’t do it so we have to be satisfied with the draw.
“There’s still room for a lot of improvements. We try and go step-by-step.”
FT Arsenal 1-1 Brighton
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.
Arteta spoke to TNT after the match, and was irritated at the lack of consistency shown by the referee.
“We started the game really well. We scored the goal, 1-0. We started the second half really good but then there is the decision that changes the game completely.”
When asked what explanation he was given regarding the sending off, he said: “None, like always.”
“If it [bookings] happens throughout the game in a consistent way it is fine but it didn’t. It is the inconsistency.”
‘He’s played the referee and it’s worked’: Peter Crouch explains theatrics behind Declan Rice’s red card
Peter Crouch says that Joel Veltman hoodwinked the referee in order to convince him to dismiss Declan Rice in Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Brighton at the Emirates Stadium.
Rice had collected a yellow card in the first half for a heavy tackle on Veltman and received a second for kicking the ball away as the Brighton defender attempted to take a quick free kick in the second half.
Speaking as a pundit on TNT Sports former Liverpool striker Crouch was convinced that Veltman had bought an offence from Rice which changed the outcome of the match.
‘He’s played the referee and it’s worked’: Peter Crouch explains red card decision
Martin Keown also questioned the sending off which resulted in Brighton earning a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium
Saka speaks to the media
Bukayo Saka spoke to Match of the Day after the game, and he said that he though the sending off, and result, “was a bit harsh for us”.
“We just want some consistency. Joao Pedro booted the ball halfway across the pitch in the first half and got nothing for it and Dec got the slightest touch and was sent off.
“It is what it is, I don’t want to put the whole game on the referee as we still had chances to win it. It has been a good start.
“Today is a disappointment but it is a long season.”
On the signing of England teammate Raheem Sterling, Saka says: “[A] great signing for us, I am really happy to have him here. I am sure he will do amazing for us.”
Rice’s red card
Peter Crouch was speaking as part of the TNT Sports panel after the match, and he had the following to say about Declan Rice’s red card:
“Everyone who has played football understands what has happened there.
“Veltman has simply played the referee. There’s no way he’s trying to play a pass 60 yards to nobody.
“He is trying to get Declan Rice into trouble. He knows he’s on a yellow card. It’s worked and that’s been the difference in the game.
“Having said that, Rice does nick the ball away and to the letter of the law that is a yellow card.”
As we wait for some reaction, here’s a reminder of the remaining matches today (all 3pm unless stated).
Brentford v Southampton
Everton v Bournemouth
Ipswich v Fulham
Leicester v Aston Villa
Nottingham Forest v Wolves
West Ham vs Man City (5.30pm)
Dunk speaks to the media
Brighton captain Lewis Dunk was the first to speak to TNT Sports. He says he had to “look at myself in the first goal”.
“I had to bounce-back from that. In the end, it’s a good point the Emirates is a tough place to come.”
“You make mistakes and it’s how you react to those mistakes. It was nice to set one up at the other end.
“The way we want to play is forward and vertical - we have quick forwards we can make passes to. We didn’t create enough chances when they went down to 10 men, but we will go away and look at it.
“We always believe we can win any game of football. We are in a good place and we know we can beat anybody.”
FULL-TIME! Arsenal 1-1 Brighton
Chris Kavanagh brings an entertaining match to an end, but you’d imagine all the post-match chat will be about that red for Declan Rice.
Arsenal take a point in a game they’ll feel unlucky not to have won, having been dominant in the first half.
For Brighton, they may rue a missed opportunity or two, but it’s still a great result away at a side expected to challenge for the title.
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