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 0-0 Arsenal
14 mins: Ethan Nwaneri looks to make something happen for Arsenal by cutting inside from the right with the help of a stepover. He sends a cross into the box but Jean Paul Van Hecke is there to nod it away for Brighton.
No real chances of note yet, other than Jesus’ offside effort.
Brighton 0-0 Arsenal
11 mins: Close!
Gabriel Jesus makes a run in behind the Brighton defence as Jorginho dinks a pass over the top. The striker collects and touches it into the penalty area before fizzing a low effort at goal.
Bart Verbruggen sticks out his right foot and deflects the effort just as the offside flag is raised against the Arsenal forward.
Brighton 0-0 Arsenal
9 mins: Veltman fouls Trossard on Arsenal’s left wing which gives the Gunners a free kick. They play it quickly and pass the ball around the defence hoping to draw Brighton out.
A long ball down the middle is poor with no attackers placed to receive the pass and Brighton get the ball back.
Brighton 0-0 Arsenal
6 mins: There’s been a smattering of boos for Leandro Trossard whenever the former Brighton man gets on the ball. He loses it on the edge of the Brighton box and the hosts transition quickly into a break.
Joao Pedro storms forward with the ball before sending it wide to Simon Adingra. Adingra crosses into the penalty area but can’t pick out a teammate.
Brighton 0-0 Arsenal
3 mins: Brighton try to control possession and limit the early momentum of the visitors. The hosts are content to pass out from the back then inject some pace through midfield. Carlos Baleba works it forward before the ball come out to Joel Veltman.
His delivery into the box is easily cleared by William Saliba.
Kick off! Brighton 0-0 Arsenal
Arsenal get the ball rolling and work it back to goalkeeper David Raya. He boots it long but Joel Veltman is on hand to nod the ball out for a throw in.
Brighton vs Arsenal
The players make their way out onto the pitch at the Amex Stadium. The new England manager Thomas Tuchel is in the stands having also been at Tottenham v Newcastle earlier today.
Arsenal will feel confident of getting a positive result today but let’s see how things play out.
Kick off is up next...
Gabriel Jesus reiterates Arsenal priorities in title race
Gabriel Jesus has vowed to keep scoring for Arsenal to end the club’s two-decade wait for a Premier League title.
Jesus, a four-time Premier League winner with Manchester City, said: “I just want to keep winning and scoring and helping the team, the club, to be there always fighting for the title.
“I know it’s a long way, we have to look for ourselves and then obviously after, we want the top of the league to drop points. But we have to look at ourselves and do our job.
“The previous two years were amazing. Obviously, we did not win, but we fought until the end. To play in this competition is already hard, to fight for the title, imagine.
“I’ve already been there (with City), but I can see this team is experienced now. We have amazing players, and I’m sure we can go there and fight for the title. But it’s still early, and we just need to keep trying to play well and win the games.”
Mikel Arteta says Arsenal may need to spend on January transfers: ‘We have to be open for that possibility’
Arsenal will have key attacker Kai Havertz available for their Premier League match at Brighton and Hove Albion, manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday.
Havertz, who scored the winner for Arsenal against Ipswich Town last week, missed their 3-1 away win over Brentford due to an illness which affected several players in Arteta’s squad.
Asked if Arsenal were planning on bolstering their squad with any signings in the January transfer window, Arteta said: “I don’t know. The focus is on the players that we have.”
Arteta offers Arsenal transfer update: ‘We have to be open for that possibility’
The Gunners have injury issues but Kai Havertz is back this weekend
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