Declan Rice’s clumsy red card cost Arsenal two points at the top of the table as Brighton came from behind to draw 1-1 at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal controlled the first half and after Martin Odegaard missed a golden chance to give the Gunners the lead, Bukayo Saka’s brilliant play set up Kai Havertz to chip Bart Verbruggen for the opener.
The Gunners took that lead into the break, despite Brighton having more of the first-half possession, but their job became harder when Rice – already on a booking – stopped a quick free-kick in front of the swinging Joel Veltman and was given his marching orders by Chris Kavanagh.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta criticised the lack of consistency in the decision and believes Veltman should have also seen red in the same incident.
“If it happens throughout the game in a consistent way, that is fine. But it did not happen,” said Arteta. “In the first half, there are a number of occasions where they kick the ball away and nothing happened. So it is the inconsistency.
“Especially because it is in an area where it is not critical and on top of that, if you make that call, you have to give a red card [to Veltman] as well. If we have to play with 10 then they have to play with 10 because it is a red card for Veltman.”
It was Rice’s first career red card and puts him out of the north London derby at Tottenham on September 15, live on Sky Sports. Arsenal already have summer midfield signing Mikel Merino out with a fractured shoulder, having let Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe also leave in the window.
But Arsenal’s concerns became more immediate when Yankuba Minteh burst through on goal, and while David Raya saved his initial effort, Joao Pedro tucked home the rebound.
Brighton’s Joao Pedro celebrates after scoring his side’s equaliser
Brighton had Arsenal penned into their own penalty area for most of the second half but then a stunning end-to-end encounter ensued.
First, Havertz saw a one-on-one chance on the counter saved by Verbruggen and Saka’s rebound was blocked. Brighton nearly scored at the other end as Raya saved from substitute Yasin Ayari when the goal was gaping.
Havertz then laid the ball on for Saka at the other end in another counter-attack but his effort was held by the Brighton goalkeeper once again.
Brighton were stunned by those flurry of Arsenal chances and were a little more tense despite the extra man. Georginio Rutter and Carlos Baleba both blazed over as they failed to make the advantage count.
Still, it meant two dropped points at home for Arsenal early in the season. The Gunners drew against Fulham at a similar stage last August and lost the league by two points. How important could this draw be?
The big moment: Rice’s red card in pictures
Arsenal’s Declan Rice obstructed Brighton’s Joel Veltman at quick free-kick
Rice is sent off by referee Christopher Kavanagh after receiving a second yellow card
Rice protests his innocence with the referee
Arsenal’s Declan Rice leaves the pitch in dejection
How Rice’s red card caused a momentum shift
Analysis: Arteta facing midfield crisis ahead of Spurs clash
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz at the Emirates Stadium:
In letting seven players from last season’s contingent go and bringing just four in, Arsenal’s squad depth was under pressure after Friday’s transfer deadline. Mikel Arteta’s squad is good, but it’s susceptible to vulnerability in the event of a crisis.
Cue crisis.
In the space of 48 hours, Arsenal have lost new signing Mikel Merino for weeks due to a shoulder fracture in his first training session with the club – and now Declan Rice to a suspension, having let Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira leave. Their next game? A north London derby at Tottenham.
Arteta will have to be reliant on Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard as two of his three midfielders. Jorginho and Leandro Trossard are next in line among the midfielders and while moving striker Kai Havertz back to an attacking midfield role is also option, fellow forward Gabriel Jesus is currently out injured as the back-up to the German.
In any case, Havertz’s early season form shows he is best as a central striker, so would Arteta risk weakening another area of the pitch just to plug a hole?
Should Mikel Arteta change Kai Havertz’s position to plug a hole in Arsenal’s midfield?
There is the untested option of trying Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber or Ben White – who all have experience as central midfielders – in that role too. But it is far from ideal.
In fact, the whole situation is far from ideal. Arsenal have already dropped two points and it’s a potentially weakened side at Tottenham next. Then Manchester City.
