Arsenal travelled to Kenilworth Road to face Luton Town in a Premier League clash on Tuesday evening.
Up against a dogged and resilient Luton side, Arsenal knew that a win would extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table. A rollercoaster affair was served up, but the Gunners ultimately came out 4-3 victors after a chaotic encounter.
Mikel Arteta fielded a strong starting XI against the promoted side, and they were certainly made to work in the first half. Luton pressed, harried, and hassled relentlessly, never letting the Gunners settle. The home crowd played their part too, in the claustrophobic confines of the 11,500-seater.
However, the crowd were briefly silenced by Gabriel Martinelli’s opener, after he was cleverly picked out by Bukayo Saka. The Luton faithful found their voices again just five minutes later, though, when Gabriel Osho powered home a header from a corner, following some uncharacteristically poor set piece defending from the Gunners.
Arteta’s side restored their lead on the stoke of half-time, as Gabriel Jesus met Ben White’s inch-perfect cross to nod in from close range.
The chaos continued after the break, with Elijah Adebayo and Ross Barkley both benefiting from David Raya errors to put the hosts ahead. Kai Havertz quickly levelled things up, before a last-second Declan Rice header finally secured the three points and sent the travelling fans into raptures.
Arsenal player ratings
David Raya – 3/10
Raya should have done better with Luton’s second goal as he was weak in coming to try and claim the corner. As for his role in the third, he won’t want to watch that one back. The calls for Aaron Ramsdale to come back into the starting XI will grow louder again after this match.
Ben White – 7/10
Was really made to work defensively, but stayed solid. Produced a wonderful assist for Jesus’ goal.
William Saliba – 6.5/10
Not at fault for any of the goals. Composed as ever on the ball.
Gabriel Magalhaes – 6/10
Also not directly at fault for the Luton goals.
Jakub Kiwior – 5.5/10
A rare start for Jakub Kiwior who worked hard but struggled to make an impression further up the field.
Declan Rice – 7.5/10
An uncharacteristically quiet evening from Rice, until the 97th minute when he popped up with the most important touch of the match.
Martin Odegaard – 8/10
Was constantly pressurised and harried, but Martin Odegaard kept working and pulling the strings and showing his class. The club captain delivered a perfect cross with the second-last touch of the match, with the final one coming off Rice’s head.
Kai Havertz – 7.5/10
Another game and another goal for Havertz, who battled well throughout. The £65 million summer signing has been on the end of plenty of criticism this season but he is really finding his feet at Arsenal now.
Bukayo Saka – 8/10
Always the Gunners’ danger man, Saka posed a constant threat and made things happen all evening. Demonstrated quick thinking and clever movement in the build up to Martinelli’s goal.
Gabriel Martinelli – 7.5/10
Took a hefty knock early on and never looked to move 100% comfortably afterwards but still managed to tuck home his second league goal of the campaign so far.
Gabriel Jesus – 7.5/10
As always, the Brazilian striker produced an all-action performance. Jesus may have admitted recently that goalscoring isn’t his strong suit but he got an important one this evening.
Substitutes
Oleksandr Zinchenko – 6.5/10
Leandro Trossard – 6.5/10
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
