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 provide 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 more durable 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 dearth of consistency within the resolution 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,” stated 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, dwell 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 rapid when Yankuba Minteh burst by means of on objective, and whereas David Raya saved his preliminary effort, Joao Pedro tucked house the rebound.
Brighton’s Joao Pedro celebrates after scoring his aspect’s equaliser
Brighton had Arsenal penned into their very own penalty space for a lot of the second half however then a shocking 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 objective 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 surprised by these flurry of Arsenal possibilities and had been a 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 house for Arsenal early within the season. The Gunners drew towards Fulham at an identical stage final August and misplaced the league by two factors. How necessary may this draw be?
The massive second: Rice’s crimson card in photos
Arsenal’s Declan Rice obstructed Brighton’s Joel Veltman at fast free-kick
Rice is distributed 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 prompted a momentum shift
Evaluation: Arteta going through 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 underneath stress after Friday’s switch deadline. Mikel Arteta’s squad is nice, however 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 resulting from 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 sport? A north London derby at Tottenham.
Arteta must 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 transferring striker Kai Havertz again to an attacking midfield function can also 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 finest 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’s the untested possibility of attempting Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber or Ben White – who all have expertise as central midfielders – in that function too. However it’s removed from superb.
Actually, the entire scenario is much from superb. Arsenal have already dropped two factors and it is a doubtlessly weakened aspect at Tottenham subsequent. Then Manchester Metropolis.
