Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Arsenal1 - 1Brighton

sportsmole.co.uk, 31 August 2024, 19:32
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka emulated Thierry Henry with his assist in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates.

Saka showed great determination to win the ball ahead of Lewis Dunk and send Kai Havertz through to score the opening goal at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners took a narrow lead into the break before they were reduced to 10 men following Declan Rice's 49th-minute red card.

Brighton made full use of the numerical advantage to restore parity through Joao Pedro, who pounced on a rebound to score his second goal of the season.

While Arsenal may have been frustrated with the draw and the red card, Saka managed to achieve an impressive feat in the final match before the international break.

Saka replicates Henry feat

With his pass for Havertz's opener, Saka became the first Arsenal player to provide an assist in each of the first three matches of a Premier League since Henry in 2004-05.

Twenty years ago, Henry managed to register at least one assist in Arsenal's first three matches against Everton, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers.

In fact, the Frenchman went on to provide three assists across the next two matches against Norwich City and Fulham to begin the 2004-05 season with assists in five consecutive matches.

While it remains to be seen whether Saka can continue his impressive run, he is currently sitting top of the assist chart alongside Chelsea's Cole Palmer.

Havertz ends wait for long-distance goal

Meanwhile, Havertz showed great composure to calmly lift the ball over Verbruggen from outside the box, with the strike representing the 34th goal of his Premier League career.

However, it was the first time the German scored from outside the box in his Premier League career, having failed to produce a long-range effort since his days as a Bayer Leverkusen player.

Unfortunately for Havertz, his strike could not fire Arsenal to victory as they Gunners failed to win a Premier League game they led at half time for the first time since April 2023.

Arteta's side can still take comfort from the fact they are unbeaten this season, and they will look to maintain that record in the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on September 15.

Top News

28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly giving more thought to making a fresh move for Inter Milan forward Marcus Thuram. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are allegedly open to signing an alternative to goalkeeper Andre Onana. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly planning to make an approach for Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap during a future transfer window. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Only one point separates Serie A strugglers Como and Lecce ahead of their final fixture of 2024, as they prepare to meet at Stadio Sinigaglia on Monday. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Empoli vs. Genoa (Saturday, 2.00pm) Both beaten by Serie A title contenders just before Christmas, Empoli and Genoa will meet for their final fixture of 2024 on Saturday afternoon. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid reportedly decide against signing Virgil van Dijk for free in the summer of 2025, and only hold interest in Trent Alexander-Arnold. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cristiano Ronaldo backs Ruben Amorim to succeed at Manchester United and insists that the club's future is bright. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite is yet to sign a new contract with the Toffees and could be the subject of a transfer battle between Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite is yet to sign a new contract with the Toffees and could be the subject of a transfer battle between Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed that Raheem Sterling should return from injury quicker than expected, but Bukayo Saka has undergone surgery on his hamstring problem. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In their 24th Championship game of the season, Norwich City are set to host Queens Park Rangers at Carrow Road on Sunday. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to keep their flawless December record intact, Birmingham City will host Blackpool at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park in League One on Sunday afternoon. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Casa Pia will be looking to secure a third consecutive victory for the first time since November 2022 when they lock horns with Braga at the Estadio Braga Municipal on Sunday. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the match as Arsenal recorded a 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town in Friday night's Premier League contest at the Emirates Stadium. 27 December 2024 talksport.com Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday are locking horns in the race for Australian teen sensation Thomas Waddingham, talkSPORT understands. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final League Two gameweek of the calendar year sees table-topping Walsall aiming for a sixth consecutive win as they welcome Newport County to Poundland Bescot Stadium this weekend. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sporting Lisbon and Benfica bring their schedule for 2024 to an end with a thrilling top-of-the-table clash when they lock horns at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in round 16 of the Primeira Liga on Sunday. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Farense SC and Vitoria de Guimaraes bring their year to a close when they lock horns at the Estadio de Sao Luis in round 16 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Sunday. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Swansea City will be aiming to make it successive wins in the Championship when they continue their campaign with a home fixture against Luton Town on Sunday afternoon. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham are again sweating over the fitness of Emile Smith Rowe for Sunday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams enjoying excellent campaigns will lock horns for an intriguing Premier League contest on Sunday afternoon, with Fulham welcoming Bournemouth to Craven Cottage. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest are set to be without the services of midfielder Ryan Yates for the trip to Everton in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton could be prepared to welcome back the services of winger Dwight McNeil for the Premier League battle with Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following a hard-fought point at the home of the faltering champions earlier in the week, Everton will continue their festive schedule with the visit of Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest. 27 December 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo has sensationally claimed the Saudi Pro League is superior to Ligue 1. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are all reportedly interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain attacker Randal Kolo Muani during the January transfer window. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly considering triggering the release clause of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi during the January transfer window due to their ongoing issues. 27 December 2024 talksport.com Leeds United have released a statement to condemn chants about Manor Solomon. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly made an offer for Paris Saint-Germain defender Nuno Mendes.