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 12:54 · Chris Wilson]

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

23 mins

Saka delivers a corner that causes plenty of pinball in the Brighton box, but Baleba does well to cushion it back to Verbruggen.

Brighton go on the attack and it’s swept wide to Minteh, but Veltman’s cross has too much height on it and it’s collected by Raya.

[31 August 2024 12:53 · Chris Wilson]

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

22 mins

Play resumes and Odegaard looks like he’l be okay. Will those breaks upset the Arsenal rhythm?

[31 August 2024 12:51 · Chris Wilson]

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

19 mins

Odegaard is the next player down, this one after a challenge from Minteh. VAR check it, but it was okay.

Worry for Arsenal fans though, as the Norwegian is receiving treatment.

[31 August 2024 12:50 · Chris Wilson]

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

17 mins

CHANCE! Out of nowhere for Arsenal! White plays the diagonal to Trossard, who plays an early sweeping cross that finds Odegaard. The captain is unmarked as he takes it first time, but it’s too close to Verburggen.

Milner is replaced – he makes way for Yasin Ayari.

[31 August 2024 12:45 · Chris Wilson]

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

14 mins

Half a chance for Brighton as Minteh wins the header, but it’s a comfortable save for Raya.

Brighton look like they will be forced into an early change here, as James Milner is down.

[31 August 2024 12:44 · Chris Wilson]

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

13 mins

Another Arsenal chance as Saka flicks inside to beat Hinshelwood, but his attempted cross to Havertz is cut out by Dunk.

Some brief respite for Brighton though, as they have some sustained possession just into the Arsenal half.

[31 August 2024 12:41 · Chris Wilson]

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

10 mins

Complete domination from Arsenal so far. First, Saka finds Odegaard on the overlap but the Norwegian’s cross is headed away. Moments later, Saka tries the early cross first time, but it’s miscued and goes to Verbruggen.

Brighton can’t get out of their own half at the moment.

[31 August 2024 12:41 · Jamie Braidwood]

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

There was a lot of focus on Leandro Trossard before kick-off, as well as Raheem Sterling given his late move from Chelsea. They’ll be competing for a place on the left wing, along with Gabriel Martinelli.

But the early stages here are a reminder of how much of Arsenal’s play goes down their right, through Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.

Saka is giving young Jack Hinshelwood a tough first half, and he nearly got in on goal following a gorgeous chipped pass from Odegaard.

It’s so good to watch.

(Getty Images)

[31 August 2024 12:39 · Chris Wilson]

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

7 mins

Some lovely play from Odegaard as he receives on the edge of the box and clips a lovely looped ball over the defence and into the path of Saka. The England winger opts for the side-footed volley, but it’s straight at Verbruggen.

[31 August 2024 12:38 · Chris Wilson]

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

6 mins

Leandro Trossard tries to justify his inclusion almost right away as he cuts inside and clips a cross towards the back post, but it is just out of the reach of Havertz.

Moments later, Hinshelwood drags down Saka on the right-wing edge of the box.