Brighton vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Joao Pedro equaliser secures point for hosts
Brighton 1-1 Arsenal: The Gunners are now five points behind league leaders Liverpool who have two games in hand
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal dropped more points in their pursuit of Liverpool in the Premier League title race after a bizarre incident between William Saliba and Joao Pedro resulted in a Brighton equaliser at the Amex Stadium.
The Gunners, freshly renewed in front of goal, were confident that they could collect all three points this afternoon and things started well with teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri cutting in from the right and curling home a left-footed strike that reminded of Bukayo Saka’s best goals.
Arsenal took the lead but then settled for it. They took time out of the match and allowed Brighton possession instead of doggedly hunting a second goal. Fortune then favoured the hosts.
Pedro received a pass inside Arsenal’s box and looked to control it with a header just as Saliba attempted to nod the ball clear. The defender arrived too late and headbutted Pedro resulting in a strange penalty being awarded to the hosts.
Pedro converted from the spot and, despite some attacking substitutions from Mikel Arteta, Arsenal were unable to restore their advantage.
Relive the action with our live blog below:
Brighton 1-1 Arsenal
82 mins: Into the last 10 minutes now and Brighton are throwing men forward with the hope of securing a winner. The hosts are the more aggressive and hopeful side and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them get a late winner.
Brighton 1-1 Arsenal
78 mins: Close! Minteh is slipped the ball on the right side of the pitch. He carries it into the penalty area then laces an attempt across the face of goal.
Mitoma arrives at the back post and flings himself towards the ball but can’t get the desired touch for an easy tap in.
Brighton 1-1 Arsenal
76 mins: As things stand Arsenal will remain second in the table but they’ll be five points behind Liverpool who would have two games in hand on them.
Estupinan lifts a cross in from the left that David Raya collects. He looks to feed Odegaard but the Arsenal captain miscontrols the ball.
Brighton 1-1 Arsenal
73 mins: Riccardo Calafiori wins Arsenal a corner and the set piece specialists need something from this. Declan Rice is on delivery duty once more and his cross is whipped straight into the hands of the goalkeeper.
Brighton 1-1 Arsenal
70 mins: Mikel Arteta will be tearing his hair out at the lack of a response from his team. Arsenal are still in second gear and haven’t been able to kick on after conceding.
They attempt to come down the left side but Joel Veltman stays strong and clears the danger.
Brighton 1-1 Arsenal
67 mins: Mikel Arteta has made an attacking change that he probably didn’t want to. He’d have been hoping to get this game over and done with without the need for Martin Odegaard.
Instead the Gunners are at risk of dropping more points unless they can find a creative spark in the final third.
Brighton 1-1 Arsenal
64 mins: Arsenal look firmly on the back foot now as Brighton sense the chance to win this game. Fabian Hurzeler has made a few more changes with Kaoru Mitoma replacing Simon Adingra.
For Arsenal, Martin Odegaard is on for Jorginho.
GOAL! Brighton 1-1 Arsenal (Joao Pedro, 61’)
61 mins: Pedro steps up to take the penalty and guides it to David Raya’s left. The goalkeeper dives the opposite way and Brighton get their equaliser.
Brighton 0-1 Arsenal
Penalty to Brighton!
59 mins: The ball comes into the Arsenal box and gets flicked up by Joao Pedro. William Saliba looks to nod the ball away and arrives slightly late.
Pedro heads it before him and then gets headed in the side of the face by the defender.
It’s a strange one but VAR agrees that the foul stands. Here’s a chance for Brighton to level things.
Brighton 0-1 Arsenal
58 mins: Estupinan and Rice both leap for an aerial ball but the Brighton defender clattering into the Arsenal midfielder. Rice was taken unawares by the contact and hurts his shoulder.
He’s fine to play on and takes the resultant free kick. The ball is curled low into the penalty area and goes past both Gabriel and Merino before rolling out of play.
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