05 December 2023 , 22:18
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Declan Rice headed in a late winner as Arsenal went five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, despite two blunders from David Raya.
The Gunners twice surrendered a lead by conceding from corners, with Raya feeling the pressure in goal as Aaron Ramsdale watched on from the bench once again. The win will feel incredible for Mikel Arteta, who has held off the chasing pack of Liverpool and Manchester City ahead of their games on Wednesday.
Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring when he found the bottom corner from Bukayo Saka's pass, but Luton levelled minutes later through Gabriel Osho's header from a corner. Thomas Kaminski kept out efforts from Saka and Martinelli, but Arsenal still went in 2-1 ahead at the break thanks to Gabriel Jesus' simple header from Ben White's cross.
Once again they couldn't hold onto their lead for long, with Raya at fault as Elijah Adebayo rose highest to head in another corner in the 49th minute. A nightmare spell for Raya continued when Ross Barkley fired underneath his body to give Luton a 3-2 lead. Jesus found Kai Havertz to equalise three minutes later following some hesitant defending from the hosts.
Arsenal turned the screw late, but Kaminski tipped over a Havertz header and Rob Edwards' side appeared to have held on before Rice headed in Martin Odegaard's cross in the 96th minute. Here are the talking points from a hugely entertaining game.
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Hero to zero
Gabriel Martinelli allowed Gabriel Osho a free header for the equaliser (JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)After a slow start to the game, it burst to life in bizarre circumstances. An overhit back-pass was put out for a throw-in by Kaminski, but it bounced back off the hoarding straight into the arms of Gabriel Jesus, who took a quick throw to allow Saka to pick out Martinelli to scuff in the opener.
It was the first shot in the match and Luton repeated the trick, scoring with their first effort on target five minutes later. Having scored the opener, Martinelli was at fault for the equaliser, putting in a half-hearted effort when marking Osho, who planted his free header into the corner of the net. Martinelli was guilty of shirking his responsibility as one of the man-markers in Arsenal's normally very effective hybrid system, in the hope one of his team-mates would head clear. They didn’t and it proved costly.
Jesus proves Arteta right
Gabriel Jesus scored his first Premier League goal since September 3 (Stuart MacFarlane/Getty Images)Jesus’ work-rate and all-round contribution to Arsenal ’s play has never really been in doubt. But his goalscoring definitely has. Coming into this game the Brazilian striker had scored just 16 times in 47 matches since his £45million move from Manchester City and had just one goal in the Premier League this season – and that came in early September.
“We need goals from him, that’s for sure,” Arteta said before the game. “He has scored a lot of goals for us and he can still improve in that aspect, like he can improve in other aspects. He knows that and he is trying to do that, but there is so much that he gives that it is difficult to put a number on. But I am really happy with his overall performances.”
When White got to the byline and stood up a cross to the back post, Jesus was arriving at the perfect time to nod in. Arsenal could really do with some consistency in front of goal from their main man over the coming weeks.
Raya reignites goalkeeper debate
David Raya was beaten to the ball by Elijah Adebayo (JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)Arteta must have known what he was letting himself in for when he said at the start of the season that Arsenal would not have such a thing as a first-choice goalkeeper this season. Despite his insistence, Raya has been just that, keeping Aaron Ramsdale on the bench. And this was a bad evening for the on-loan keeper.
Raya was not at fault for the first goal, but he was almost solely to blame for the second. He allowed himself to be put off by Andros Townsend’s mere presence and then failed to beat Adebayo to the ball, despite having the advantage of being able to use both his hands.
He still looked rattled by the mistake when Barkley worked a bit of space against White and fired a low shot at him. Raya didn’t get down quick enough and allowed the shot to squirm underneath him. Arteta will have questions to answer about his goalkeeper once again.
Barkley turns back time
Ross Barkley scored and turned in a great performance for Luton (Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)As soft as Luton’s third goal was from an Arsenal perspective, it was also indicative of Luton’s adventure and quality, with two experienced Premier League campaigners at its heart. Barkley picked up the ball in the centre circle, skipped past Gabriel Magalhaes and Martin Odegaard and fed Townsend before getting the ball back.
Barkley drifted past White and fired low and was rewarded with his first Premier League goal since the last day of the 2021/22 season, when he netted for Chelsea against Watford. Barkley was celebrating his 30th birthday and it was heartening to see the former Everton man showing glimpses of the player he used to be. With Odegaard off the boil, he was the best performer in the middle of the pitch on either side.
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Rice stands up tall
Mikel Arteta's side conceded some very sloppy goals (Getty Images)What an end to the game. This looked like a nightmare night for Arsenal, with the nature of the goals conceded stinging. With second-placed Liverpool facing bottom side Sheffield United on Wednesday, they knew they needed to win here.
Last season the wheels fell off in the New Year as Manchester City's relentlessness came to the fore. If they are in a similar position at the end of this season, Arsenal will look back on nights like this so fondly. Rice cost them £105m in the summer - and he's looking like he's worth every penny.