Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal team dropped their first points of the season in a controversial outing at Emirates Stadium, with Brighton holding the Gunners to a 1-1 draw.
After Kai Havertz had given the home side a first-half lead, Arsenal looked to be on their way to another routine home victory, continuing their perfect start to the season.
However, Declan Rice was awarded a second yellow card for ‘kicking’ the ball away, despite minimal contact, whilst the Arsenal midfielder was simultaneously kicked by Joel Veltman, with the Brighton defender avoiding any punishment.
The numerical advantage allowed Brighton to pull themselves back to equal footing, courtesy of Joao Pedro.
Arsenal would battle well to take a point from the fixture, and could’ve taken all three, enjoying a handful of breakaway opportunities.
Here is how we rate the players following the draw.
Arsenal player ratings
David Raya – 7
Following on from his Man of the Match performance at Villa Park last weekend, David Raya looked comfortable and well-assured in today’s draw.
Practically untroubled throughout the first half, Raya was unlucky to see Pedro tap in from his save, but stayed focused and helped the defence regroup.
A reaction save from Yasin Ayari coupled with some valiant claims from crossed balls earns Raya a solid score, with the Spaniard once again one of the Gunners' star performers.
Ben White - 6
A quiet game from the former Brighton man, who couldn’t add his usual attacking influence due to the red card.
White defended well, however, not allowing an attacking overload down the Brighton left wing to overwhelm him.
William Saliba – 6
Much like White, Saliba couldn’t influence the game too much today, due to the deep-block style of defending deployed by Arteta in reaction to the red card.
However, the Frenchman didn’t make any obvious mistakes and defended the box well.
Gabriel – 5
Looked to sometimes lose concentration when the game was at its most chaotic, with communication between the rest of the defence confused at times.
That said, Gabriel still defended respectably and played his part in holding onto a point.
Jurrien Timber – 5
Undoubtedly Timber’s quietest performance in an Arsenal shirt, with the Dutchman failing to show the usual flair and electricity the Emirates Stadium has become accustomed to.
Like all players who featured, the red card limited their creative influence on the match, but Timber wasn’t particularly involved during the first period and was subbed off in the second-half as a precaution against a potential injury.
Martin Odegaard – 6
The captain looked sharp during the opening 20 minutes as Arsenal took firm control of the game, linking up with Bukayo Saka around the box to forge multiple opportunities.
However, as defending became the aim of the game following Rice’s dismissal, Odegaard could no longer afford any risks and therefore couldn’t pull the strings in his usual fashion, with the midfield battle a lost one.
Declan Rice – 3
Due to decisions out of his control, today’s clash was Declan Rice’s worst outing in an Arsenal shirt.
The midfielder wasn’t overly impressive during the first half and was given a fair yellow card for a late challenge, before his fate was decided in the 49th minute.
The aforementioned descent that ultimately resulted in the red card can be argued over all day long, but Rice put himself in an unnecessary position by tapping the ball away, giving Christopher Kavanagh a decision to make.
Now set to miss the North London derby, today’s match was one to forget for the Gunners record signing.
Thomas Partey – 6
Partey had a better game than last week at Villa Park, where the midfielder looked overwhelmed in periods.
Some timely tackles and neat passes broke up the Brighton attack on many occasions, but excessive ball retention and attempts at dribbling out from the back saw Partey caught out and running back to his own-goal.
Next week, at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, the same lapses in concentration can’t be afforded.
Bukayo Saka – 7
Another game, another assist for Bukayo Saka who continues to contribute almost weekly towards the Arsenal goalscoring.
From minute one, the winger caused headaches for Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler and was unlucky not to win the game for the Gunners late on, a stride away from connecting with Kai Havertz’s phenomenal ball.
Kai Havertz – 8
Kai Havertz continued his exceptional 2024 by scoring yet again, executing a cheeky lob over Bart Verbruggen.
With 10 men on the pitch, Havertz worked tremendously hard, constantly providing an option for the long ball, and almost put Arsenal back ahead late on, denied by the outstretched leg of Verbruggen.
Leandro Trossard – 6
After his heroic cameo last week at Villa Park, Trossard was rewarded with a first start of the season, but a mediocre display wouldn’t have been what Arteta wanted.
His lack of pace didn’t work against his former employers and after the red card, Trossard was mostly a passenger in the then cagey affair.
Substitutes
Looked competent when coming on to add defensive assurance following the red card, with some good blocks and precise passing.
Gabriel Martinelli – 6
Didn’t have enough time or opportunity to affect the game but looked fast and on the ball when required to press and defend as a team.
Oleksandr Zinchenko – N/A
After coming on for Timber late on, Zinchenko didn’t have much of an opportunity to leave his mark on the game.
