Arsenal managed to cling to a 1-1 draw against Brighton in a dramatic North London clash, despite Declan Rice’s pivotal red card.
The Gunners appeared set to maintain their perfect season start when Kai Havertz's deft lob put them ahead just before halftime.
However, their advantage was undone after Rice received a second yellow card in the 49th minute for delaying a free-kick, leaving Arsenal to battle with ten men.
Brighton capitalised on their numerical advantage and equalised in the 58th minute. David Raya’s parry from Yankuba Minteh’s shot fell perfectly for Joao Pedro, who coolly slotted the ball past the Arsenal keeper.
Both teams had opportunities to secure a win; Havertz saw his chance saved by Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen, and Brighton's Yasin Ayari also had a late effort thwarted by Raya.
Despite a late push and a missed header from new signing Georginio Rutter, Brighton couldn't find a winner. The match at the Emirates Stadium ended with Arsenal salvaging a valuable point in an encounter that swung dramatically with Rice's red card.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: "We started the game really well. We scored the goal, 1-0. We started the second half really good but then there is the decision that changes the game completely."
When asked what explanation have you been given on the sending-off, the Spaniard replied: "None, like always."
When told the Premier League said Rice's sending off was for delaying the restart, Arteta said: "If it [bookings] happens throughout the game in a consistent way it is fine but it didn't. It is the inconsistency."
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