Arsenal drew 1-1 with Brighton as they were held back by Joao Pedro’s goal following a contentious red card for Declan Rice.

Joao Pedro came to the rescue for Brighton as Arsenal’s perfect start to the Premier League season came to an end with a 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium. The hosts got off to a flying start, with Kai Havertz capitalizing on Bukayo Saka’s through ball to lob Bart Verbruggen and break the deadlock in the 38th minute.

However, Arsenal’s momentum was halted when Declan Rice received a second yellow card for impeding a quick free kick just five minutes into the second half. This turned the tide of the game, and Brighton took advantage of their numerical advantage when Joao Pedro scored from the rebound after David Raya saved Yankuba Minteh’s shot.

Both teams had opportunities to secure the win in a frantic finale, but Havertz and Saka failed to find the back of the net for Arsenal, while Yasin Ayari’s shot was saved by Raya for Brighton. The result sees Brighton move to the top of the Premier League table with seven points from three matches under new manager Fabian Hurzeler. Arsenal sits in second place, behind Brighton on goal difference, ahead of the weekend’s remaining fixtures.

Arsenal now face a tough challenge in the North London derby against Tottenham on September 15, following the international break. Brighton, on the other hand, will host Ipswich a day earlier.

The turning point of the match was undoubtedly Rice’s red card, which completely shifted the momentum in Brighton’s favor. Up until that point, Arsenal had been in control, but Rice’s decision to block a quick free kick proved costly. Although the decision may have seemed harsh, Rice’s earlier caution for a late tackle and Joel Veltman’s gamesmanship influenced the referee’s decision.

In hindsight, Rice’s actions not only cost Arsenal the chance of three points but also leave them in a difficult position ahead of the North London derby. Without their suspended midfielder, who is crucial defensively in challenging away games, Arsenal will face a tough task against their rivals.

Despite the setback, Havertz was named the player of the match for his performance. The German forward has been in excellent form at the Emirates, with 10 goal involvements in his last nine Premier League games. Even when Arsenal were down to 10 men, Havertz led the line superbly and almost secured the victory with a fine solo run before setting up Saka, who was unable to convert the chance.

Overall, it was an eventful match with plenty of highlights. Havertz’s goal, Rice’s red card, and Joao Pedro’s equalizer were the key moments of the game. Both teams had their chances to win, but ultimately had to settle for a draw.