The red card for Declan Rice changed the game in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Brighton but before that Kai Havertz’s fine form as a striker continues, with his 10th goal in 15 games playing in that position for Arsenal.
In the above table (scoring and creating) – he’s been involved in 17 goals in those 15 games as a striker, averaging a goal or assist every 76 mins.
In the below table (shooting) – he’s scored a healthy 10 goals from 40 shots (none of them pens) and is slightly overperforming his xG and finishing well.
Arsenal 1-1 Brighton - the fans' verdictpublished at 17:17 1 September
Rachel: I have felt disgruntled and angry for the rest of the weekend, Yet again, the officials are the stars of the show. I didn't see our best football and am unsure why we aren't firing on all cylinders. Martin Odegaard as the captain needs to be more positive in his attitude as well as his performance. We really need to step up next time. There's a long way to go.
GM: Arsenal are working hard to self-destruct. Declan Rice ought to know the basic rules at this level. They should blame themselves and not the application of the rules.
David: This was a travesty. Declan Rice kicks a ball a few inches and gets a second yellow while Joel Veltman plays the referee by pretending to pass to a Brighton player and instead kicks Rice, which should have been a straight red. What’s more, Joao Pedro kicked the ball 30 yards to slow the game down and got nothing!
Pheonix: Tepid display at the very least...everyone knows we needed a striker. How Mikel Arteta and Edu contrived not to give us one is a mystery. Teams are finding us out because we don't have a striker who takes the chances we create. Thomas Partey is responsible for making Rice get the first yellow card - from them on he was walking on thin ice.
Brighton fans
Mick: A decent performance after a horrible first 15 mins. Jack Hinshelwood is not a left-back and it showed early on. The sending off had a big impact but Brighton were growing into the game at that point. Yankuba Minteh is getting better, Kaoru Mitoma is beginning to get his form back with Joao Pedro and Carlos Baleba superb again and a mention for Yasin Ayari who played well. Could have won it at the end.
Phillip: The performance was hinged around the red card as before, we were struggling but as soon as the sending off happened, we dominated. I cannot understand all the upset around the second booking as any player on a yellow card should remember the rules about deliberate time-wasting and accept the consequences. Good point earned.
Charlie: In the first half we played well defensively but were dominated for most of the half. In the second, however, I think we outplayed Arsenal. We pressured them well and Bart Verbruggen was our saving grace at points. Both teams had their fair share of good chances. A good performance and getting a point was solid against one of the best teams in the world.
Jonty: We looked lost once Arsenal settled into a low block. I can't imagine we spent much time this week working on breaking down a team sitting deep though. Still delighted with a point away at the Emirates.
Catch up on the Premier League actionpublished at 11:00 1 September
11:00 1 September
Watch all the highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures with Gary and the team.
Arsenal's Champions League fixtures confirmedpublished at 17:21 31 August
17:21 31 August
Arsenal's fixture list for the new league phase of the revamped Champions League has been confirmed.
The Gunners will play eight games against eight different teams between 19 September and 29 January, four away and four at home.
Teams who finish in the top eight will qualify automatically for the last 16, while those who place ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout play-off for the chance to join them.
Arteta 'amazed' by red card and thinks Arsenal deserved the winpublished at 17:15 31 August
17:15 31 August
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Mikel Arteta kept his emotions in check in the press conference following Arsenal's draw with Brighton but he could not hide his frustration at Declan Rice's red card.
Rice's red card for time wasting when he nudged the ball away from Joel Veltman saw the Gunners play the majority of the second half with ten men.
Arsenal dropped points for the first time this season and Arteta has previously said that his team would need to be nearly perfect to beat Manchester City to the Premier League title.
"A very emotional afternoon. We started well, created three or four chances that we didn’t convert." Arteta said.
"After that we had a period of some issues, especially with the ball and regaining the ball.
"We lost it in some difficult areas and lacked some continuity and dominance in that period. We scored a really good goal in a moment where we took advantage of the opponent.
"Then we go to half time, we come back, we are really strong.
"Then the referee makes a decision that changes the course of the game. And still like this with 10 men, the team reacts unbelievably well, the stadium reacts unbelievably well and probably we should have won the game."
Arsenal 1-1 Brighton: What Arteta saidpublished at 15:06 31 August
15:06 31 August
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to MOTD: "Overall when we played against 11 v 11 we deserved to win the game and 11 v 10 we deserved to win the game. We lost two points."
Thoughts on sending off: "I was amazed. In the first half when the opponents did that they didn't get any booking. He makes the call by law in a non critical area of the pitch when the ball hit the heel when turning around, to make that decision. By law he can do it but be consistent. If that is the case they should have a man sent off and then it is 10 v 10.
"Amazing, the team and the reaction of the crowd [after going a man down]. We created two big chances one v one and we should have won the game."
On Raheem Sterling signing: "Very happy with all the signings we have made. There was an opportunity and I know him very well. He can give us a lot."
Arsenal 1-1 Brighton: Did you know?published at 14:56 31 August
14:56 31 August
Image source, Getty Images
Since Mikel Arteta's first game in charge of Arsenal on Boxing Day 2019, the Gunners have been shown 16 red cards in the Premier League - at least three more than any other side.
In what was his 245th Premier League appearance, Declan Rice was shown his first red card in the competition.
'They'll be delighted to have Sterling'published at 11:30 31 August
11:30 31 August
Raheem Sterling's switch to Arsenal will "delight" the club's players, says former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown.
Brown feels Sterling is "a sensational signing" for the Gunners.
Media caption,
BBC Radio 5 Live discuss Raheem Sterling potential signing to Arsenal
Now window is shut Arsenal can focus on title challenge published at 11:26 31 August
11:26 31 August
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal picked up one of the deals of the transfer window by signing Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling on loan for the season.
The deal which will see Arsenal pay around 50% of Sterling's wages.
The Gunners had been hoping to use Mikel Merino in his first match since he signed from Real Sociedad but he picked up an injury in training.
The focus will be on making sure that Arsenal pick up a win against a Brighton side who have started the season in excellent form with wins over Everton and Manchester United.
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal have been focusing on controlling games as they look to build momentum for when the matches later in the season carry even more importance.
Give us your verdict on Sterlingpublished at 10:05 31 August
10:05 31 August
You've made your selection below on how you feel about Sterling - now's your chance to explain in a bit more detail.
Tell us what you make of his signing and how Mikel Arteta can get the best out of him in an Arsenal shirt.
Sterling gets 'the ideal opportunity'published at 09:08 31 August
09:08 31 August
Phil McNulty Chief football writer
Image source, Getty Images
After Arsenal's late intervention on deadline day, Raheem Sterling has been presented with the ideal outcome and opportunity to rescue his career from cold storage.
He is able to stay in his native London and joins a club hoping to bridge the gap to Manchester City and become Premier League champions this season, with the added attraction of Champions League football.
New boss Mikel Arteta has never hidden his admiration for Sterling, saying recently: "We built a really strong relationship together at Manchester City. He was unbelievable at that time. He is someone I have really strong feelings about."
It is a chance Sterling must have thought was a distant prospect when deadline day began, with reported interest from Manchester United and Paris St-Germain failing to materialise and options limited.
While it is true Sterling has not made the impact expected at Chelsea, he can hardly be branded a failure with his 19 goals in 81 appearances, including 10 in 43 games last season as they finished sixth and returned to Europe under Mauricio Pochettino.
Arteta has been in the hunt for added goal threat, and while Sterling cannot be regarded as a consistent marksman - though his career record is a respectable 173 goals in 549 games - Arsenal will be getting a player who will be highly motivated given the circumstances of his very public rejection by Enzo Maresca and Chelsea.
If Arteta can reignite the fire inside Sterling once more and bring him back towards his best, this shock transfer may yet be a masterstroke.
Sutton's predictions: Arsenal v Brightonpublished at 08:23 31 August
08:23 31 August
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.
For week three, he takes on MOBO Award-winning drum & bass legend and producer Adam F.
Sutton's prediction: 2-0
Arsenal, their win at Villa last week was a bit of a statement because last season Aston Villa did the double over them.
Two teams with a 100% record. Brighton have got off to a flyer under Fabian Hurzeler and they are very expensive in the way they play, they are brave, they back themselves.
But it's Arsenal, at home, at the Emirates, I think they will win this one.
'Perfect fit' - Sterling on Arsenal switchpublished at 01:46 31 August
01:46 31 August
Image source, Getty Images
Raheem Sterling says Arsenal provides "the perfect fit" for him after completing his loan move from Chelsea.
Sterling, 29, has made 81 appearances for Chelsea but was not part of their first-team plans this season.
On switching to the Gunners he said: "It’s an unbelievable feeling. It’s really exciting. I’m buzzing.
"Looking at everything, I’m just, like, ‘This is a perfect fit for me’, and I’m super happy that we got it over the line."
"I spoke with Edu and I said that it’s something you can see from the outside, you can see the real togetherness from Mikel’s time here and you see the journey that the boys are on, and you can see the hunger, and I keep saying again, the togetherness is something I’m looking to be a part of."
