ARSENAL dropped two crucial points after a clash of heads saw Brighton earn a second-half penalty.
2024/2025 Premier League
1-1
Match Report
The Gunners looked to be cruising to fifth consecutive win, but saw it all unfold when William Saliba mistimed a header in his own box.
The towering centre-back was trying to flick away a loose ball being chased down by Joao Pedro when he butted into Pedro's head instead, bringing the Brazilian crashing to the floor and causing Anthony Taylor to point to the spot.
Pedro confidently slotted the penalty past David Raya after VAR deemed the clumsy clash of heads to be a spot kick too.
Arsenal were short of options from that point on with Bukayo Saka still out injured, Kai Havertz out of the squad and first-half goalscorer Ethan Nwaneri hooked at half-time.
Mikel Arteta might think he made the wrong decision to take off the talented 17-year-old, who had calmly put the Gunners ahead in the first half with a impressive finish past Bart Verbruggen.
But a yellow card for time wasting on a corner clearly had Arteta worried he could be reduced to 10 men and the Spaniard chose to remove the teenager at the break.
That meant that Arsenal were light on attacking options after Pedro's equaliser, forcing Arteta into bringing on a half-fit Martin Odegaard in the hopes of some late magic.
That never happened and Arsenal failed to put pressure on league leaders Liverpool.
The Gunners remain in second place, but are now five points behind The Reds having played two more games than Arne Slot's men - it's a huge mountain to climb for a Saka-less Arsenal.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
9' Offside! Jesus' shot saved by goalkeeper
16' ETHAN NWANERI HAS OPENED THE SCORE! ! Brighton 0-1 Arsenal
21' Raya is taken down in the box
31' Highlight from Brighton vs Arsenal
34' SIMON ADINGRA how does he miss this!
36' Corner from Enwaneri
40' Gabriel is taken down in box but ref says no pen!
43' Baleba's shot wide out
44' Tuchel is watching the match as new coach for England
46' Sub:Martinelli is on
58' Serious foul from Estupinian
61' JOAO PEDRO HAS EQUALIZED VS ARSENAL !!! Brighton 1-1 Arsenal
64' Martin Odegaard is coming on!
76' MINTEH so close to giving ARSENAL the lead!
82' Highlight from Brighton vs Arsenal
Line-ups
Brighton XI: Veltman, Pervis Estupiñán, Igor, Matt O'Riley, Jan Paul van Hecke, João Pedro, Bart Verbruggen, Yasin Ayari, Simon Adingra, Carlos Baleba, Brajan Gruda
Subs: Steele, Webster, March, Jakub Moder, Kaoru Mitoma, Tariq Lamptey, Georginio Rutter, Julio Enciso, Yankuba Minteh
Arsenal XI: Trossard, Jorginho, Partey, David Raya, Merino, Jesus, Rice, Gabriel, William Saliba, Calafiori, Ethan Nwaneri
Subs: Neto, Zinchenko, Tierney, Martin Ødegaard, Martinelli, Jakub Kiwior, N. Butler-Oyedeji, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ismeal Kabia