ARSENAL DROPPED POINTS following a 1-1 draw at home to Brighton after Declan Rice was shown the first red card of his career.
Rice was given his marching orders in the 49th minute by referee Chris Kavanagh after subtly kick away of the ball from a Brighton free-kick resulted in a second yellow for the England international.
The Gunners, who signed Raheem Sterling on a season-long loan during a dramatic transfer deadline day, were ahead by this point through a Kai Havertz lob in the 38th minute.
Brighton took control following Rice’s red card and levelled through Joao Pedro with 58 minutes played, but despite further chances they failed to find a winner in north London.
If Friday night was all about Sterling, Saturday morning was dominated by tickets going on sale for Manchester City-supporting Oasis, but the band’s allegiances failed to stop their music being blared out at the Emirates before kick-off.
Sterling was restricted to a watching front and saw new club team-mate Bukaya Saka begin in menacing fashion.
Saka raced past Brighton left-back Jack Hinshelwood inside two minutes before he was thwarted by Bart Verbruggen from a tight angle and won a free kick from his teenage rival soon after.
Another dangerous Saka dribble ended with Ben White having a shot deflected wide by the arm of Lewis Dunk, which was deemed to be in a natural position.
Brighton lost veteran James Milner to injury after 17 minutes but eventually started to get a foothold on proceedings.
Kaoru Mitoma volleyed wide from a good position on the left but with 38 minutes on the clock they were punished for a mistake by captain Dunk.
Dunk was too hesitant in the air following Gabriel’s clearance and was remarkably nudged off the ball by Saka, who played into the path of Havertz and he coolly lobbed Verbruggen for his second goal of the season.
However, a stop-start finish to the half occurred with referee Kavanagh handing out yellow cards to Rice and Thomas Partey, the former for hacking down Veltman.
The duo would renew that battle after the break and it resulted in Rice being shown the first red card of his career in the 49th-minute.
Veltman tried to take a quick free kick by the corner flag but ended up kicking Rice in close proximity and while Arsenal supporters called for the Brighton defender to be sent off, it was the Arsenal midfielder who was shown a second yellow card for subtly kicking the ball away.
Rice was stunned and before Mikel Arteta could send on Riccardo Calafiori, the Seagulls levelled.
Dunk atoned for his earlier error with a superb defence-splitting pass for Yankuba Minteh, who raced away from William Saliba and got a shot off which David Raya saved, but Pedro nipped in to fire home the equaliser.
Calafiori was finally introduced as Arsenal switched to a 5-2-2 formation and yet the chances continued for Brighton with a Yasin Ayari effort blocked before Danny Welbeck headed over.
It had been rearguard action from Arsenal since Rice’s red, but they almost took the lead with 16 minutes left after a lightning break.
Another Gabriel clearance caused problems for Brighton with Havertz able to control the ball brilliantly before he spun away from Jan Paul van Hecke, but his low effort was saved with Verbruggen’s feet.
Saka was first to the rebound but after he side-stepped a challenge, his shot was blocked by van Hacke and Brighton survived.
After Ayari had a stinging drive saved by Raya, Arsenal produced another rapid counter-attack which should have resulted in a goal, but Saka produced a weak effort after a fine Havertz cross.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler reacted with Julio Enciso and Simon Adingra brought on, but Georginio Rutter, another substitute, smashed an effort off target before Carlos Baleba blazed over.
It ensured it finished level with Kavanagh’s full-time whistle greeted with boos after a fiery contest.
