Arsenal put on a two-faced performance on a crucial night where a victory was imperative. Losing points to Luton, a team fighting against relegation, does not bode well for a championship-caliber team.
For what seems like an eternity for anyone associated with Arsenal, their lack of defensive strength seemed to be the main focus. Luton, on the other hand, displayed both toughness and grace – with all of their players embodying the former and Ross Barkley, the standout performer, showcasing the latter in plentiful amounts.
David Raya, the goalkeeper for Arsenal, was under scrutiny as Amazon Prime joined in broadcasting with the customary shots of backup player Aaron Ramsdale looking dejected on the bench. Raya’s mistake in failing to come out confidently for a corner led to Elijah Adebayo’s header and Luton’s equalizer early in the second half. But his performance only worsened when Ross Barkley’s shot flew past him, as he was sluggish in getting down and let the ball slip underneath for Luton’s third goal.
Luton were feeling confident and optimistic. They were focused on continuing their success at home, having recently achieved a draw against Liverpool and a win against Crystal Palace. The possibility of further success was in sight, and the question was straightforward – how would Arsenal respond?
Fortunately for them, the response was filled with a more aggressive threat and the same sharpness that defined the previous performance. They maintained this intensity until the very end. Luton believed they had secured a valuable point, but Arsenal continued to push even after Kai Havertz’s equalizing goal in the 60th minute. Despite playing six additional minutes, the scores remained tied.
Declan Rice entered the game and it was Martin Ødegaard who delivered the cross. Arsenal had been patiently building up their attack and Rice was able to head the ball into the far corner. This caused a lot of excitement, with Mikel Arteta receiving a booking due to his overwhelming emotions. This is his third caution this season, resulting in a touchline ban for the upcoming match against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Once again, Arsenal displayed their unwavering determination, capitalizing on their opportunities in the final moments. They have previously secured victories this season with late goals against Manchester clubs and Brentford, and also managed to equalize against Chelsea in the 84th minute. This is the type of resilience that fuels championship contention.
Arteta refrained from criticizing Raya, instead stating that his team needed to improve their defensive efforts as a whole. This was evident in Luton’s first goal, which tied the score at 1-1.
Barkley made it clear that he wanted to make the game a display of his composure and character with the ball, with his early execution of a Cruyff turn being a standout moment. However, Luton equalized Gabriel Martinelli’s initial goal from a corner. The crowd noise intensified as they gained possession and when Gabriel Osho successfully scored, the energy in the stadium soared. Martinelli’s defense was lacking.
Bypass the newsletter advertisement.
after newsletter promotion
The first time Arsenal took the lead in the exciting match was short-lived. This happened when Thomas Kaminski quickly went to the left to retrieve a loose back-pass from Amari’i Bell and kicked the ball out for a throw-in instead of a corner. Gabriel Jesus reacted quickly and passed the ball to Bukayo Saka who ran past Alfie Doughty. Saka’s run was clever as usual, and he made a smart cutback after his burst. Martinelli finished with a first-time shot into the far corner.
Arsenal’s responded well to Osho’s goal. Jesus and Martinelli worked Kaminski from tight angles while Saka jinked inside and unfurled a curler for the far corner. The goalkeeper did very well to fingertip it away.
The goal for Arsenal just before half-time was well-deserved, as it came from a play on the right side. Saka and Ben White had a smooth exchange of passes, with White setting up Jesus perfectly for the cross. Jesus then made an impressive jump and easily scored with a header.
At times, Barkley appeared to be in control of the game, showcasing his impressive technical skills. He made a beautiful pass to Andros Townsend after the game resumed, resulting in a corner after the winger’s shot was deflected. Luton continued to display their determination and aggression, causing difficulties for Raya who was overpowered by Adebayo. Despite Rice’s attempt to challenge him, Adebayo was able to push him away and time his jump effectively.
Barkley had a great evening, while Raya’s took a turn for the worse. Barkley made a strong run from midfield, hugging the left side and enjoying every touch of the ball. He then passed to Townsend and received it back on the left side of the penalty area. After performing a step-over and swerving to the outside, he took a low shot that went underneath Raya. This was only the fourth away goal that Arsenal had conceded in the Premier League all season.
They returned once more. The goal to tie the game was largely due to Jesus’ presence, as he received a long pass from Saka and fended off Teden Mengi before finding Havertz. Jesus and Saka were both exceptional, causing trouble for the opposing team throughout the match. Havertz came close to scoring with a header towards the end, but it was not a game where Arsenal would come up short.
Source: theguardian.com
