A sport that pivoted on the controversial sending off of Declan Rice early within the second half led to a 1-1 draw.

Kai Havertz had put us right into a first-half lead when he deftly lobbed the onrushing keeper after operating onto a Bukayo Saka move.

We had been seemingly in management till Rice was proven pink for 2 bookable offences, the second for time losing, when the referee determined he had prevented a fast restart.

The guests quickly made their benefit rely, and levelled on the hour by means of Joao Pedro. We had an opportunity to win it when Havertz raced by means of on the counter, however in the long run the ten males needed to accept a single level.

Havertz offers us raise off

Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka linked up early on. The skipper lifted a ball excessive for the winger to run on to inside the realm, however Saka didn’t get any energy on his volleyed effort. Ben White did catch his strike from the sting of the realm sweetly moments later, and it gave the impression to be heading goalwards, however Lewis Dunk deflected it away for a nook off his arm. The referee waved away appeals for handball in opposition to the Brighton defender.

An exquisite curling cross from Leandro Trossard – within the crew on the expense of Gabriel Martinelli – arrange our subsequent likelihood. The Belgian’s move was completely into the trail of the coming Odegaard, however there was no energy behind his shot.

Brighton’s first actual sight of purpose got here on the half hour. Havertz misdirected his headed clearance inside his personal field and Kaoru Mitoma latched onto it, flashing his volley simply broad.

The purpose to interrupt the impasse got here out of nothing. Jurrien Timber gained the ball and launched it up subject from outdoors his personal space. Saka gained the header and the ball bounced by means of to the advancing Havertz. The German stole in and lifted the ball over the pinnacle of Bart Verbruggen from outdoors the realm into the web.

It was Havertz’s 18th purpose involvement in his final 21 Premier League video games, and he’s scored 5 occasions in his final 5 appearances at Emirates Stadium.

Rice sees pink

The primary motion of the second half was a Declan Rice shot deflected broad for a nook, and moments later Rice was the centre of consideration once more. He gave away a free kick by the nook flag, then nudged the ball away earlier than Joel Veltman may take it. Referee Chris Kavanagh deemed it a second yellow card for timewasting, and dismissed the England midfielder.

Diminished to 10 males for nearly half the sport, it additionally means Rice can be suspended for the north London derby after the worldwide break.

Inside quarter-hour of the pink card, Brighton had levelled. Raya saved nicely from Yankuba Minteh as he burst between our central defenders contained in the field, however Pedro was there to transform the rebound.

Mikel Arteta reacted by sending on Riccardo Calafiori for Leandro Trossard, and transferring Jurrien Timber right into a central position.

Late probabilities

The entire momentum of the sport had modified with the referee struggling to maintain management.

We had been having to take in strain, however Havertz had an excellent alternative on the break from an extended Gabriel clearance. He took the ball beautifully on the run, however his low shot was stopped by Verbruggen, and Saka’s observe up was charged down.

Raya saved nicely together with his legs from Yasin Ayari earlier than Saka couldn’t fairly get sufficient buy on a Havertz cross in entrance of purpose.

In the long run we needed to take some extent, sustaining our unbeaten begin to the season.

What’s subsequent

The worldwide gamers will now be a part of up with their respective nations for the primary worldwide break of the season. We’ll return to motion the next weekend, with the quick journey to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the north London derby, on Sunday, September 15.