Luton Town 3-4 Arsenal: Declan Rice scores late winner as Gunners conquer spirited Luton
Declan Rice’s stoppage-time header gave Arsenal all three points as they sealed a thrilling 4-3 victory over spirited Luton Town.
In the first 20 minutes of the game, Arsenal were looking uncomfortable and it almost looked like it would be a low-scoring game. However, the Gunners took the lead after Saka’s low cross found Martinelli, who then scored from his scuffed shot.
However, Luton scored the equaliser just five minutes later as Gabriel Osho scored a powerful header past David Raya from Alfie Doughty’s corner.
Luton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski denied both Saka and Martinelli but Arteta’s side went ahead just before the break as Ben White’s dinked cross found Gabriel Jesus who scored a powerful header to give Arsenal the lead.
In the second half, Elijah Adebayo scored the equaliser for Luton from a corner again in the 49th minute before ex-Chelsea star Ross Barkley scored a low shot past Raya to give Luton the lead.
Arsenal fight back in seven-goal thriller to win against Luton
Raya’s mistake for the second and third goals did cost Arsenal, but his teammates stepped up to give Arsenal 3 vital points.
The Kenilworth Road was rocking after Luton turned the game around to make it 3-2. However their celebrations were cut short as Kai Havertz scored the equaliser from Jesus’ pass.
The Gunners were then looking to score a winner, which eventually came in the stoppage time as Martin Odegaard’s cross found Declan Rice who headed it home for Arsenal in the dying moments.
This was also Arsenal’s first win against Luton Town away from home in 37 years, they last won a game at the Kenilworth Road back in 1986.
“Incredible evening. First of all, congratulations to Luton, their players, staff, the atmosphere they created made it a special night to play football and they made it very hard for us,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.
“They are so good at set pieces and they made us really fight for the game and at the end it was a beautiful win.”
Arsenal are now five points clear of Liverpool who have a game in hand and six points clear of Manchester City.
