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 0-1 Arsenal
57 mins: Arsenal win a corner kick that gets swung into the box by Declan Rice. The ball fizzes over to the far post and Mikel Merino is on hand to keep it alive.
He’s forced to the sideline and can’t keep the ball in play under pressure.
Brighton 0-1 Arsenal
54 mins: The game is following a familiar pattern to the first half. Arsenal happy to let Brighton have the ball but the hosts are unable to do much with it.
The home fans are growing frustrated.
Brighton 0-1 Arsenal
51 mins: Adingra looks to get into the box from the left wing but a back-tracking Martinelli nicks the ball off him. Arsenal don’t keep it for long and Brighton look to come at them once more.
Brighton 0-1 Arsenal
48 mins: Pervis Estupinan faces a go at goal but doesn’t get close to troubling the goalkeeper. David Raya gets the ball moving again and Arsenal boot it long down the right wing.
Declan Rice collects possession but runs into trouble.
Second half! Brighton 0-1 Arsenal
Mikel Arteta has made a substitution at the break with the goalscorer Ethan Nwaneri being replaced with Gabriel Martinelli.
For Brighton, Matt O’Riley and Brajan Gruda are replaced with Georginio Rutter and Yankuba Minteh.
The hosts kick off the second half.
HT Brighton 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal edged possession in that half 54% to 46%.
In contrast Brighton had more shots with six compared to Arsenal’s five though the Gunners managed two on target including Ethan Nwaneri’s goal.
That’s a sign that Brighton are at least still in this game.
Half-time! Brighton 0-1 Arsenal
45+4 mins: There goes the whistle to end the first half. A moment of magic from Ethan Nwaneri gives Arsenal the lead over Brighton.
The hosts have had moments of their own but a lack of quality in the final third means they trail. Arsenal seem to be playing within themselves but seem quite comfortable at present.
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