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

Mikel Arteta bemoans 'inconsistency' after Declan Rice's red card in Arsenal draw

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:

Arsenal vs Brighton LIVE

• FULL TIME! Arsenal 1-1 Brighton
• Joao Pedro grabs equaliser for Brighton after Declan Rice sent off early in second half
• 74’ CHANCE! Havertz through on goal but denied by Verbruggen (ARS 1-1 BHA)
• 58’ GOAL! Joao Pedro equalises for Brighton after Raya save! (ARS 1-1 BHA)
• 48’ RED CARD! Declan Rice sent off for second yellow card after HT
• Rice was sent off for nudging ball away as Veltman took free-kick
• 37’ GOAL! Havertz scores with lob after Saka beats Dunk (ARS 1-0 BHA)
• 17’ CHANCE! Trossard finds Odegaard, who volleys straight at Verbruggen (ARS 0-0 BHA)

[31 August 2024 13:15 · Chris Wilson]

Arsenal 1-0 Brighton

43 mins

In the aftermath of that Rice challenge, Fabian Hurzeler received the first booking of his Premier League career! You’d imagine the young German will be a little winded after coming up against this Arsenal side, considering the first two matches of his tenure.

Pedro wins a free-kick near the box though, and Brighton have a chance to get back into it – it is out behind for a goal kick.

[31 August 2024 13:14 · Jamie Braidwood at the Emirates]

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Brighton

A deserved lead for Arsenal, but such a poor goal to give away from Brighton. Lewis Dunk seemed to lose the track of the goal in the air, and was easily brushed aside from Bukayo Saka.

From there, the finish was quality from Havertz. He scores again, and Saka gets his third assist of the season already.

(Getty Images)

[31 August 2024 13:13 · Chris Wilson]

Arsenal 1-0 Brighton

41 mins

Partey turns into trouble but does well to win it back, before Declan Rice goes sliding into the challenge. It’s late, but no chance of a red – the England man is booked.

That goal has certainly put some zip back into the tempo of the game, but what a time to score for Arsenal!

[31 August 2024 13:10 · Chris Wilson]

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Brighton

38 mins

GOAL! And it’s come from nothing for Arsenal!

The long ball comes up high and Saka is tussling with Dunk. He wins the challenge and it bounces kindly into his path – he races to beat van Hecke to the loose ball and pokes it into the path on the onrushing Kai Havertz, who simply has to lift the ball over Verbruggen and into an empty net.

(Action Images via Reuters)

[31 August 2024 13:08 · Chris Wilson]

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

36 mins

Unusual from Saka, who seems to forget where he is on the pitch and lets the ball run past him and out of play. Brighton go long and Minteh ends up winning the free-kick under the challenge from Gabriel.

[31 August 2024 13:06 · Chris Wilson]

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

34 mins

Arsenal aren’t getting a lot of joy down the left, with Veltman getting the better of Torssard on the most recent occasion.

Odegard is fouled in midfield and so Arsenal come again, spreading it wide to Saka, but the Brighton defence forces the home side back into their own half.

This game has lost a lot of that early tempo.

[31 August 2024 13:02 · Chris Wilson]

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

31 mins

A little more open now, as Arsenal attack and Saka thinks he’s won another foul on the edge of the box, but Mitoma wins it clearly.

Moments later, Baleba intercepts just into the Arsenal half and he has a golden chance to thread it through to Minteh, but he waits too long and clips it high instead. Minteh can’t make much of it, and the chance ends with Mitoma volleying wide from the left.

[31 August 2024 13:01 · Jamie Braidwood at the Emirates]

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

Credit to Brighton. They’ve found a way to stop the supply the Saka down the right, but Arsenal aren’t moving the ball as quickly as they were in the opening 15 minutes. Arteta is looking agitated on the sideline with the amount of time some of his players are taking on the ball. It’s also got quite scrappy in midfield.

(Getty Images)

[31 August 2024 13:00 · Chris Wilson]

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

28 mins

A good overlap from Hinshelwood ends with Brighton winning a corner. It’s a poor delivery though, and the routine ends with Baleba fouling Saka.

[31 August 2024 12:58 · Chris Wilson]

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

26 mins

Some good defending from van Hecke prevents Havertz from sliding Saka in clean through.

Arsenal have lost a little bit of momentum, while Brighton are enjoying more possession but they’re being stifled by the Gunners’ shape in possession.

Saliba is the latest to intervene, as he’s in the perfect position to cut out Pedro’s cross.