Rice walks as Joao Pedro earns Brighton point against Arsenal
Premier League: Arsenal 1-1 Brighton
Declan Rice was sent off for Arsenal as their perfect start to the new season suffered a second-half collapse against in-form Brighton.
Mikel Arteta’s side looked comfortable half-time leaders through a 38th minute Kai Havertz goal and were looking to increase their lead when Rice was shown a second yellow card just four minutes into the second half.
Arteta was still trying to introduce a defensive substitute when Joao Pedro drove in the rebound from a Danny Welbeck shot to score a 58th minute equaliser.
The mood was ugly on and off the pitch now as Riccardo Calafiori came on to form a five-man defence to try and stay in the game and hope to nick a winning goal.
Referee Chris Kavanagh, who had looked out of his depth in the first half, had cautioned Rice for a first half foul on Joel Veltman. He then seemed to indicate that he had no option but to dismiss Rice after he tried to delay a Brighton free-kick following a tangle with the same player.
Arteta made more changes to try to cope with Brighton’s extra player advantage and Havertz and Bukayo Saka both had chances to restore Arsenal’s lead as Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen produced the game of his life.
Arsenal: Raya 8, White 7, Saliba 6, Gabriel 5, Timber 7 (Zinchenko 80), Partey 7, Rice 5, Odegaard 6 (Martinelli 74), Saka 8, Trossard 6 (Calafiori 59), Havertz 8. Subs: Setford, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Salah.
Brighton: Verbruggen 8, Hinshelwood 5, Dunk 6, Van Hecke 6, Veltman 6 (Estupinan 72), Baleba 6, Milner 5 (Ayari 17), Minteh 6 (Rutter 72), Mitoma 7, Welbeck 7, Pedro 7. Subs: Steele, Lamptey, Julio, Webster, Enciso, Adingra.
Ref: C. Kavanagh 5
