DECLAN RICE grabbed a 97th-minute winner to seal a last-gasp victory for Arsenal over a valiant Luton side after an astonishing match at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday evening.
Arsenal’s record £105 million summer signing continued to make his mark with the Gunners, his late header ensuring Mikel Arteta’s side moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League after the game of the season.
The north Londoners appeared to have blown the chance to extend their lead over Liverpool and Manchester City after a superb performance from Rob Edwards’s Hatters, but Rice’s header 23 seconds into the seventh minute of a minimum of six additional minutes prompted scenes of deep joy amid pandemonium among the travelling Arsenal support and visiting players that saw Arteta booked with a subsequent one match touchline ban.
Speaking after the match, injury-time matchwinner Rice described his clincher as a big moment in Arsenal’s season.
“Luton are a top side, they can no way be overlooked in this league because of the quality they’ve got,” Rice said.
“They made us pay with set pieces, us being sloppy at the back but for us to score last minute and keep that momentum building is massive for us in this season.”
Luton boss Edwards made four changes to his Luton team that lost 3-1 at Brentford at the weekend. Elijah Adebayo started up front with Jacob Brown and Andros Townsend on either side of him. The other change saw Alfie Doughty return from injury while talisman Tom Lockyer, Chiedozie Ogbene, Carlton Morris and Tahith Chong made way.
Arteta made three changes from his side that beat Wolves 2-1 at the weekend, as Ben White replaced the injured Takehiro Tomiyasu with Oleksandr Zinchenko benched in favour of Jakub Kiwior. Kai Havertz was also included, replacing Leandro Trossard.
In a frenzied atmosphere, Gabi Martinelli steered the ball home for 1-0 on 20 minutes, his first strike since October. The opener coming after Bukayo Saka — on his 200th appearance at the tender age of 22 — squared for the Brazil international, following a quickly taken throw-in by Jesus that capitalised on Thomas Kaminski’s clearing the ball out of play under pressure.
Unsurprisingly, given the rare old noise generated inside Kenilworth Road, the lead only lasted five minutes. Hatters No45 Alfie Doughty out-swinging corner found right-back Gabe Osho in acres of space, with the Arsenal backline nowhere near the 25-year-old former Rochdale defender who guided his header past David Raya’s despairing dive for 1-1, and his first goal for Luton.
The visitors looked to continue their fine run of form, with Hatters keeper Kaminski doing well to deny Jesus, Martinelli and Saka in quick succession.
Yet Jesus was not to be denied and emphatically headed home Ben White’s excellent cross on the stroke of half time to put the Gunners 2-1 ahead, with his third goal in five games. The break coming at the right moment for Rob Edwards tenacious Luton who looked to regroup after such an intense opening 45 minutes.
Four minutes after the break Elijah Adebayo headed home from Doughty’s corner to make it 2-2 outmuscling Raya, who spectacularly failed to claim the ball. The goal adding further confirmation that Raya is simply not an upgrade on Aaron Ramsdale.
For you can quote all the distribution statistics you like in favour of the Brentford loanee — but the simple fact is the 28-year-old Barcelona-born keeper does not impress in what is surely the main requirement for a shotstopper, and that is to keep the ball out of the net. Adebayo’s header proving that Raya at 6ft does not have the attributes, nor the physical presence to deal with a targeted aerial threat that saw Luton’s No11 nod home with barely a challenge from Raya.
Speaking after the match, Arteta said: “We have to defend better the situations as a team. There are certain things leading to the goals and it’s not about blaming, we have never done it, and we’re not going to do it now.”
When pressed on Raya’s errors that could have been so very costly, Arteta responded, saying: “We have to defend better the situations as a team. There are certain things leading to the goals and it’s not about blaming, we have never done it, and we’re not going to do it now.”
Unsurprisingly the Kenilworth Road cauldron ramped up the decibels still further. On a cold night in Bedfordshire the slickers from the big city were reeling. And didn’t Edwards side know it.
On 57 minutes, the “Kenny” crackled with noise under its evocative old floodlights, when Ross Barkley fired under Raya — who once again should have done better keeping the ball out, as the Hatters took the lead at 3-2. Raya’s mistake being the perfect gift for the impressive Barkley on his 30th birthday for his first Hatters goal, as the former Everton and England star rolled back the years with a performance full of verve and vision.
However, with many Luton fans still celebrating, Kai Havertz scored again. His first of the evening but his third in a week, and fourth of the season. A fine finish after Jesus’s deft touch inside set up the £65m midfielder — as players and team celebrated with the travelling fans packed in the away end. And to think there was still half an hour to go.
Edwards side were pushed further and further back, with Arsenal sensing that their opponents were spent, having strained every sinew during this enthralling match.
Six minutes additional time was signalled. Yet, seven minutes and 23 seconds had elapsed by the time Rice popped up with his last-gasp header to seal an incredible victory for the Arsenal that prompted delirious scenes between the away support and the team. As if to underline just how much time had been taken, referee Sam Barrett blew the final whistle moments after Luton kicked-off.
Cue unbridled joy among the Arsenal contingent. The result triggering wild celebrations among the players, staff, and fans at the stadium — which saw Arteta picking up a yellow card for his reaction. The booking was his third of the season, which means the Spaniard now faces a one-match ban in the Premier League after new rules introduced at the start of the season. Meaning Arteta will be banned from the dugout for Saturday’s crucial clash at Aston Villa.
Not that he minded on Tuesday evening, saying: “This is the incredible thing about football, emotions and what you live together with a lot of people. It was a special night.
“Credit to Luton, the atmosphere they created, how they were coached, how they made it difficult for us, but we found a way to win. The resilience, and the character, and the quality and desire to win that the team showed was great.”
Understandably came boos and frustration coming from Hatters fans at the end despite their side becoming the first to score three goals against Arsenal this term — but had nothing to show for their intense endeavours.
Yet, the home support should be so proud of their valiant team’s performance in running the Gunners so close.
A deflated but dignified Edwards certainly believed so, insisting after this match for the ages: “We thought we’d have a go, that’s what our supporters want. That’s our identity. Arsenal wanted a game of order and we made it chaotic at times. I’m really flat for everyone. I’m so proud of the lads.”
