Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes Luton Town have a ‘really special’ person in the Hatters’ head coach, Rob Edwards, ahead of their Premier League clash this Tuesday.
The Gunners travel to Kenilworth Road for the first time since Boxing Day in 1991 striving to extend their lead atop the Premier League table. Arsenal currently sit two points clear after 14 games, while Luton Town linger in 17th place. The Hatters have only claimed nine points.
Arsenal strengthened their standing atop the table last Saturday with a 2-1 win over Wolves at Emirates Stadium. The result meant the north London squad became the first club to win 10 games this term. Luton Town lost 3-1 at Brentford for their ninth defeat of the campaign.
Mikel Arteta thinks Luton Town have a ‘really special’ manager
Luton Town had edged Crystal Palace 2-1 at Kenilworth Road before losing at Brentford amid their triple-header of London derbies with Arsenal to come. The Eagles were just the second side to fall to the Hatters this season. Edwards also took a 2-1 win at Everton this September.
Now, Arteta backs Luton Town to give Arsenal a ‘really tough game’ on Tuesday as he takes on a close friend in Edwards. The pair were in the same classes whilst earning their coaching badges and stayed in touch. Edwards also continues to amaze Arteta with his work at Luton.
“He’s a great coach,” Arteta said, via quotes by football.london. “A really special person, as well. You can tell by the way he coaches his teams and the way they behave. I’m very happy for him the way it’s going.”
Arteta added: “We have [stayed in touch]. He was here at Watford not long ago, as well. So, we’ve been pretty close.”
Rob Edwards can extend Arsenal’s dire run at Kenilworth Road
Arteta and Edwards are yet to meet as managers since earning the badges together. Arsenal have not played Luton Town in any competition since losing 1-0 at Kenilworth Road in 1991, either. It took the Gunners up to 10 visits without a win at Kenilworth Road since May 1985.
So, Tuesday’s Premier League meeting will be a game of firsts with Arteta taking his team to Luton Town in Edwards’ first game against Arsenal. He has only previously met the Gunners’ U23s in September 2019. Edwards only had 11 games with Watford as a Championship side.
Edwards bounced back from his brief spell at Watford to take over Luton Town in November 2022. He arrived at Kenilworth Road with the Hatters 10th in the Championship through 21 games. They would end the season in third before beating Coventry City in the play-off final.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
