IT may have been nervy and scrappy, but Arsenal’s summer transfer window ended in Deadline Day delight.
Yet with new signing Raheem Sterling watching on, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners made hard work of it on the pitch too – losing their 100 per cent winning start in the Premier League.
For all the bravery shown and problems caused by Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton, a routine Emirates win was on the cards after a lobbed Kai Havertz finish in the 38th minute.
But an uncharacteristic act of immaturity from Declan Rice earned him a second yellow in the 49th minute – his first red card in 245 Prem appearances.
Already on a caution for a reckless lunge on Joel Veltman just before the break, the same Brighton defender was the villain as his quick free-kick was nudged from its spot by Rice.
Veltman ended up following through on Rice who went down in a heap, but upon getting back to his feet was met with ref Chris Kavanagh’s red card.
Rice stumbled down the tunnel with a look of frustration and embarrassment – he knew that could end up being a pivotal, costly moment in a title race where every mistake is punished.
And Arsenal held on for a mere nine minutes before the Seagulls broke the resistance – Joao Pedro tapping in a rebound from David Raya’s reaction stop.
Sterling has left a right madhouse in Chelsea – for this season at least – but was treated to a real barmy game that must have brought back some Stamford Bridge flashbacks.
This is an untimely setback for Arsenal and Arteta – with Rice now set to miss a tasty North London Derby clash at Tottenham after the international break with title rivals Manchester City to follow.
And with another new boy Mikel Merino crocked for weeks with a shoulder injury, there are also concerns over Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard – both subbed off with knocks.
After a post-match moan about his lack of starting opportunities, Leandro Trossard got his wish – in for Gabriel Martinelli off the left – in the only change for Arsenal.
Hurzeler switched things up in goal with Jason Steele dropping out for Bart Verbruggen and Carlos Baleba in for Billy Gilmour after finalising his Serie A move to Napoli.
Perhaps the majority of Arteta’s squad were up late keeping an eye on Sterling’s 1am announcement, because their start was clunky to say the least.
Combined with Brighton taking the game to the wannabe champions of England and Arsenal were struggling to get a grip of this game.
Yet the visitors gave them a helping hand by playing themselves into trouble. Jack Hinshelwood dragged Bukayo Saka down just outside the box and came close from the free-kick.
Saka continued to torment Hinshelwood down the right with his lightning reactions on and off the ball, and should have done better with a delivery across the box for Havertz.
But this Brighton lot are fearless. Kaoru Mitoma nutmegged and zipped past Ben White with a far-post delivery that was met by Yankuba Minteh.
The game remained disjointed. James Milner hobbled off through injury and Odegaard required treatment for a bruiser from Danny Welbeck.
And just after Mitoma volleyed wide from a poor Havertz header in his own box, the German international was up the other end chipping Verbruggen and shushing the away end.
It came from a Timber up and under that Saka somehow beat and outmuscled Lewis Dunk to before feeding Havertz for his second goal of the campaign – both coming at home.
Tensions were hitting boiling point in the aftermath. Rice’s piledriver on Veltman did not help with Hurzeler also being booked for his remonstrations.
And after Rice received his marching orders, Arteta’s meticulous tactical nature appeared to be thrown into the wind. His team were disorganised, frantic and impatient.
It is as if this group had never prepared for a red card scenario – and it showed with Brighton’s equaliser as Dunk was allowed to send a long pass through the spine of Arsenal.
Minteh raced clear, bouncing off Gabriel, stopped by the palms of Raya but finished off by Pedro – something the Spanish keeper will feel he could have dealt with better.
And still, Arsenal could and should have won this game. Two chances in the space of two minutes were wasted from Havertz and Saka.
Havertz was clean through in the 75th minute but his tame finish clipped the feet of Verbruggen. His low cross two minutes later was more accurate but Saka’s lunge was not.
