Arsenal vs Brighton LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Declan Rice controversially sent off

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Arsenal have a habit of starting games quickly, and they’re trying to do so again here. Plenty of the ball in the opening stages, and they’re closing down very quickly.

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Early pressure from Arsenal as Saka carries into the box and tries to deliver a cross, but it’s blocked by Hinshelwood.

The away side get us underway in north London.

There are loud cheers from the Arsenal fans as Raheem Sterling’s name is announced before kick-off at the Emirates. With the 29-year-old signed on loan late last night, he was unable to be registered in time for the game.

Just five minutes until kick-off at the Emirates, and both sides are coming out onto the pitch.

Will one side keep their 100 per cent winning record? Or will each side have to settle for a point?

These two sides have met a total of 30 times, with games dating back to 1935.

Arsenal have won 17 of these matches, with Brighton winning eight and five ending as draws.

The Gunners have won three of their last four league matches against Brighton, but the Seagulls have won three of their seven top-flight away matches versus the Gunners (D1, L3).

Last season, Arsenal won both matches – 2-0 at home and 3-0 away.

A reminder of how you can watch today’s match, with just 15 minutes until kick-off.

When is Arsenal vs Brighton?

Arsenal vs Brighton kicks off at 12.30pm BST on Saturday 31 August at the Emirates Stadium in London.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on TNT Sports. Subscribers will also be able to watch via the Discovery+ app and website.

Arsenal have won 18 of their 20 top-flight games in 2024, only dropping points in a 0-0 draw at Manchester City and a 2-0 home loss to Aston Villa.

They are aiming to win nine successive Premier League matches for the first time since January to March 2004 – during their ‘Invincibles’ title-winning season.

This year, only Cole Palmer (15 goals, 10 assists) and Erling Haaland (17 goals, one assist) have been directly involved in as many Premier League goals as Kai Havertz (10 goals, seven assists).

Havertz has scored in each of his last three league meetings with Brighton.

If they manage a surprise win at the Emirates, Brighton would win their opening three games of a Premier League season for the first time.

The Seagulls were winless in all seven of their top-flight away games in the capital last season, drawing three and losing four.

Their last victory in London was at the Emirates though – a 3-0 win in May 2023.

Danny Welbeck is looking to score in three consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time since January 2014. 

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking before the lunchtime kick-off against Brighton, on signing Raheem Sterling:

“We are happy with what we have done, but now the full-focus is on the match.

“We know the qualities he has. It is a bigger step-up for us, we have brought a top talent who has a loads of experience, hopefully he impacts the team in a good way.

On Sterling’s Man City record: “He was playing under a great manager [Pep Guardiola] with great players around him - if you do that he will cause so many issues to a team.”

Arsenal have the chance to match a 20-year record match Brighton today. The Gunners have not won nine Premier League matches in a row since the ‘Invincibles’ season.

“That would show unbelievable consistency,” Mikel Arteta said.

“It’s already difficult to do what we’ve done, but we want to be better and tomorrow we are going to have to really earn it because we are going to face a really good Brighton side.”

Arsenal’s longest ever winning run in the Premier League is 14 matches, which was set in 2002.