31 August 2024
Arsenal 1 Brighton 1
After the start they had made to their season, once again, Arsenal fans were talking about winning the Premier League. Having added Raheem Sterling to the roster in a last-minute deadline day deal, they feel The Gunners now have the depth to go one step further. Only time will tell if that bears fruit or proves to be the mad ramblings of ArsenalFanTV host Robbie Lyle.
Arsenal seem to be looking more the part to be considered title challengers. For starters, their warm-up tops seem far more professional than the outrageous Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat offering they had last campaign. That little number needed to come with a warning to anyone under the influence of LSD that it could haunt your dreams or cause a trip you will never come back from.
Mikel Arteta’s side started to put Brighton under early pressure at The Emirates. Saka won a free kick on the edge of the box in a wide position. His delivery from the resulting set-piece was atrocious but Odegaard recycled it and lifted it over the defender into the winger’s path. His shot at goal was easily saved by Verbruggen in The Seagulls’ goal however.
As the hosts continued to press, White struck a venomous shot which seemed to be heading in the far corner. It struck Dunk’s arm and went behind for a corner. The Arsenal players went crazy appealing for a penalty. You wonder if these players actually know the rules of the game as the Brighton defender’s arm was in a completely natural position.
Trossard was causing his old team some problems down the left flank. He put a perfectly weighted cross into the penalty area to pick out Odegaard. The Norwegian, from six yards out, hit a tame effort straight at the Brighton keeper when he should have scored. The replay showed that it would have been ruled out for offside in the build-up to save his blushes.
The Seagulls started to ask questions of the hosts defensively. A misplaced pass from Partey set them on their way but they struggled to penetrate the Arsenal defence. Havertz got a defensive header all wrong, sending it back towards his own goal. Mitoma didn’t seem to realise how much time and space he had and dragged his first-time volley wide of the far post.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side then switched off for a moment. As The Gunners pumped the ball clear in defence, Dunk misjudged the high ball and allowed Saka to win it. He touched the ball through into the path of Havertz, who lifted it over the advancing Verbruggen to give Arsenal the lead. The Emirates stadium erupted as his effort nestled in the back of the net.
Everything seemed to be going according to plan for Mikel Arteta’s side as they looked to maintain their 100% start to the season. Brighton had also won both of their opening games but were struggling to get into their groove in North London. Now it seemed the focus would be getting in at the break without conceding another goal.
Partey was looking like a complete loose cannon in the middle of the park. He had a first touch like a rhinoceros and it was getting him and his side into trouble. As he lunged into a challenge to clear the ball, Rice tried to retrieve it. He followed suit and caught the Brighton player and the referee had no option but to produce a yellow card for the former West Ham man.
Into the second half and not long after the restart came the game changing moment. Rice was penalised for a foul and Veltman looked to take the free kick quickly. Just as the Brighton defender swung at the ball, the Arsenal midfielder tapped it away and out of play. His follow through caught The Gunners man and he went to ground.
However, the referee saw it that Rice was trying to stop the set-piece from being taken quickly. That, by the letter of the law, is a yellow card offence. The official produced a card, his second of the game, and gave him his marching orders. Mikel Arteta was dancing around the touchline and throwing his arms around like a man possessed. He was clearly not happy with the decision.
Soon after the game restarted, Brighton started to make the extra player count. As they came on the attack, Minteh got a shot off but it was straight at the Arsenal keeper. Raya got down to make the save but Pedro followed up to tuck the rebound under the Spaniard. The away end erupted as The Seagulls got an equaliser to tip the balance of the game their way.
Then we saw the two sides to Kai Havertz. As The Gunners hoofed the ball clear, he pulled it out of the air with a sublime touch that set him through on goal. He looked to bury it in the far corner but the outstretched leg of Verbruggen denied him. As Saka tried to follow up, he was crowded out but the ball again broke to the German. As he tried to turn towards goal he tripped over the ball and it went out for a goal kick.
The visitors had a brilliant chance to win it when van Hecke’s shot from outside the box was blocked. With Raya on the floor from his dive, it broke to Ayari. He had an empty goal to aim for, apart from the corner where The Gunners’ keeper was laying. Incredibly, he then struck his shot into that corner and the Spaniard was able to make the save.
Saka wasted a golden chance to win it when Havertz played a ball in behind the Brighton defence. The winger slid in to meet it but his contact was poor, giving Verbruggen the chance to save. The game ended with both sides sharing the points and for Brighton, this will seem a massive result as they kept their unbeaten start to the season intact.
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