Prior to kick-off, the feeling around the club was already positive following the deadline-day deal to bring Raheem Sterling to the club on loan from Chelsea on favourable terms.
That continued when Havertz lobbed Verbruggen for a delightful strike after a touch by Saka to set him up.
But it all started to go downhill for the Gunners from there.
Boss Mikel Arteta had his head in his hands when, having already been booked for a late foul on Veltman, midfielder Rice nudged the ball away from the Dutchman and knew a second yellow card was coming.
On his 245th Premier League appearance, this was Rice’s first ever red card.
Arsenal lost any control they had in the match when they went down to 10 men, although Havertz did waste a good opportunity to claim his second goal.
Losing Rice for one match will be a blow to Arteta who will be without new signing Mikel Merino for a number of weeks with a suspected fractured shoulder that he picked up in his first training session with the club.
The Gunners will feel they have a stronger squad than last season but will now be without two key midfielders – and questions will once again be asked whether they need a lethal finisher after the crucial Havertz miss.
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