Declan Rice’s clumsy crimson card value Arsenal two factors on the high of the desk as Brighton got here from behind to attract 1-1 on the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal managed the primary half and after Martin Odegaard missed a golden likelihood to present the Gunners the lead, Bukayo Saka’s good play arrange Kai Havertz to chip Bart Verbruggen for the opener.
The Gunners took that lead into the break, regardless of Brighton having extra of the first-half possession, however their job turned tougher when Rice – already on a reserving – stopped a fast free-kick in entrance of the swinging Joel Veltman and was given his marching orders by Chris Kavanagh.
Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta criticised the shortage of consistency within the choice and believes Veltman ought to have additionally seen crimson in the identical incident.
“If it happens throughout the game in a consistent way, that is fine. But it did not happen,” mentioned Arteta. “Within the first half, there are a selection of events the place they kick the ball away and nothing occurred. So it’s 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 profession crimson card and places him out of the north London derby at Tottenham on September 15, reside on Sky Sports activities. Arsenal have already got summer time midfield signing Mikel Merino out with a fractured shoulder, having let Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe additionally depart within the window.
However Arsenal’s issues turned extra speedy when Yankuba Minteh burst by means of on aim, and whereas David Raya saved his preliminary effort, Joao Pedro tucked dwelling the rebound.
Brighton’s Joao Pedro celebrates after scoring his aspect’s equaliser
Brighton had Arsenal penned into their very own penalty space for many of the second half however then a surprising end-to-end encounter ensued.
First, Havertz noticed a one-on-one likelihood on the counter saved by Verbruggen and Saka’s rebound was blocked. Brighton almost scored on the different finish as Raya saved from substitute Yasin Ayari when the aim was gaping.
Havertz then laid the ball on for Saka on the different finish in one other counter-attack however his effort was held by the Brighton goalkeeper as soon as once more.
Brighton had been shocked by these flurry of Arsenal probabilities and had been a little bit extra tense regardless of the additional man. Georginio Rutter and Carlos Baleba each blazed over as they did not make the benefit depend.
Nonetheless, it meant two dropped factors at dwelling for Arsenal early within the season. The Gunners drew in opposition to Fulham at the same stage final August and misplaced the league by two factors. How vital may this draw be?
The large second: Rice’s crimson card in footage
Arsenal’s Declan Rice obstructed Brighton’s Joel Veltman at fast free-kick
Rice is shipped 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 crimson card brought about a momentum shift
Evaluation: Arteta dealing with midfield disaster forward of Spurs conflict
Sky Sports activities’ Sam Blitz on the Emirates Stadium:
In letting seven gamers from final season’s contingent go and bringing simply 4 in, Arsenal’s squad depth was beneath strain after Friday’s switch deadline. Mikel Arteta’s squad is nice, nevertheless it’s inclined to vulnerability within the occasion of a disaster.
Cue disaster.
Within the house of 48 hours, Arsenal have misplaced new signing Mikel Merino for weeks attributable to a shoulder fracture in his first coaching session with the membership – and now Declan Rice to a suspension, having let Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira depart. Their subsequent recreation? A north London derby at Tottenham.
Arteta should be reliant on Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard as two of his three midfielders. Jorginho and Leandro Trossard are subsequent in line among the many midfielders and whereas shifting striker Kai Havertz again to an attacking midfield position can be possibility, fellow ahead Gabriel Jesus is presently out injured because the back-up to the German.
In any case, Havertz’s early season kind reveals he’s greatest as a central striker, so would Arteta threat weakening one other space of the pitch simply to plug a gap?
Ought to Mikel Arteta change Kai Havertz’s place to plug a gap in Arsenal’s midfield?
There may be the untested possibility of making an attempt Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber or Ben White – who all have expertise as central midfielders – in that position too. However it’s removed from excellent.
In reality, the entire state of affairs is much from excellent. Arsenal have already dropped two factors and it is a probably weakened aspect at Tottenham subsequent. Then Manchester Metropolis.
