Arsenal escaped from Luton’s crumbly shithole of a stadium with all three points in the most dramatic of circumstances as Declan Rice sealed a 4-3 win seven minutes into stoppage time.
The Gunners looked destined to drop vital points on the road despite twice holding the lead before the England international rose highest in the box to head home Martin Odegaard’s cross.
In truth, Arsenal should have wrapped up the game much earlier but sloppy defending from corners and a disastrous display by goalkeeper David Raya allowed the home side to cancel out first half strikes by Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.
When Ross Barkley put Luton ahead on 57 minutes, you sensed the worst but Kai Havertz restored order within three minutes teeing up a tense finale. Somehow, the Gunners got over the line to stretch their lead at the top of the table to five points.
Here’s what coaches, players and pundits made of a topsy-turvy match…
Mikel Arteta on the win…
I really enjoyed [it], especially the end. The incredible thing about football, the emotions and the moments that you live together with a lot of people. It was a special night. Credit to Luton for the incredible atmosphere they created, the way they played, the way they were coached, they made life really difficult for us, but we found a win. The resilience, the character and quality that the team showed, and how much we wanted it, it was great.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Rob Edwards on Luton’s game plan…
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. We work really hard on both sides of the game. We always have a plan. Arsenal don’t give you a lot. We’ve got really good delivery and we’ve got people who want to attack it. We do a lot of work on it and more so in the last few months. The players are really enjoying it.
Source: BBC Sport
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Mikel Arteta on whether he’ll now watch tomorrow’s matches…
I love football so I watch as many games as my wife allows me to. That’s quite a lot. I have the support of my boys so normally it’s good!
Source: Amazon Prime
That goal by Gabriel Jesus means that 11 different players have scored Arsenal's last 11 goals in the Premier League. (Credit to Opta for flagging that there had been nine scorers of last nine goals before today).
— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) December 5, 2023
Thierry Henry on Arsenal’s late winner…
What a ball from Odegaard. You’ve got to feel sorry for Luton. We’re not the ref, but he allowed one more minute, it’s six minutes minimum, so Arsenal took advantage of that. To talk about Declan Rice, who saved one on the line at Brentford, he went on the back of the player and then he went in front of him. Boom. But the ball from Odegaard, wow.
Source: Amazon Prime
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Mikel Arteta on picking up a booking for celebrating Arsenal’s winner…
I could not be seated in my seat, unfortunately. I left there, I had no special awareness at all. It was pure emotion. If that’s a yellow…okay, that’s a yellow.
Source: beIN SPORTS
200 – Bukayo Saka is making his 200th appearance for @Arsenal in all competitions; he's the fourth youngest player to reach the milestone for the club. Happiness. #LUTARS pic.twitter.com/oJJsMINhMM
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 5, 2023
Alan Shearer on Arsenal scoring late goals…
That’s a second late winner [in recent weeks], they keep on pushing and you’ve got to respect that and admire that because that’s a team that doesn’t give up.
Source: Amazon Prime
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Mikel Arteta on Takehiro Tomiyasu’s calf issue…
We had a scan, and it’s not good news. He’s got an injury in his calf, and he’s going to be out for a while.
Source: Post-game press conference
Arsenal are now only one point worse off versus their equivalent 2022-23 fixtures. The win over Luton is a two-point improvement over 2022-23's draw with Saints.
3 Brentford A (-)
3 Wolves H (-)
1 Luton A (Southampton) (+2)
3 Aston Villa A
0 Brighton H
1 Liverpool A— Orbinho (@Orbinho) December 5, 2023
Ian Wright reacting to Arsenal’s winner…
Look at what I was just looking at [shows phone], James Maddison, look, look…”I hate that he plays for Arsenal” and Declan Rice scores. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Woooooohooooooo. Arsenal. Arsenal Arseanadhauidhalskjdkal.
Source: Optus Sports
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Mikel Arteta on David Raya’s performance…
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. It’s about how the team reacts to that, because it’s going to happen, and I love that response.
Source: Post-game press conference
2 – Declan Rice is the third different Arsenal player to score two 90th minute winning goals in a single Premier League campaign, after Ian Wright (1993-94 and 1995-96) and Nicklas Bendtner (2009-10). Transformational. pic.twitter.com/PF4q8VA6lQ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 5, 2023
Kai Havertz on the win…
BIGGG. Another huge win. We keep moving 💪🏼
Source: Twitter/X
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Bukayo Saka on making his 200th appearance for Arsenal…
I think there’s no better way to play a 200th appearance for Arsenal, the club that I love. To get one like that, I’m so happy. It’s a brilliant night for me.
Source: Amazon Prime
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Ben White on Kai Havertz scoring again…
It’s amazing, such a nice guy and deserves everything he is getting.
Source: Arsenal.com
A goal and a last minute winner with your Dad in the away end? Perfect ❤️ pic.twitter.com/SHt4aUl9Hv
— Gabriel Martinelli (@gabimartinelli) December 5, 2023
Sooooooo HAPPY!!!
Rice = Legend.
Raya = No2.
Unfortunately Raya is still going to keep his place as no 1. I think a couple of games on the bench will do him good but Arteta is too stubborn to admit Raya is not all that. He did a similar thing at the start of the season with putting Gabriel on the bench and Partey as RB. God knows what his plan was but it was not working well and only an injury to Partey forced his hand to go back 4 at the back. On a positive note another massive win. Liverpool had a very hard game with… Read more »
I thought last night might have been the game Arteta subs his keeper. Ramsdale would have saved at least one of those.
Crumbly shit hole stadium? Bit harsh. Not all clubs have rich owners and massive fan bases to fund huge new stadiums.
Not too sound to wanky, but in fairness I thought Luton were excellent tonight. They really had a go it wasn’t parking the bus bullshit. I hope they stay up, fair play. But nevertheless COYG
I’ve no sympathy for them. Running around fouling the opposition and then blaming the ref for adding a deserved 30s is pathetic behavior from team and fans alike. They got what they deserved for me.
yes it was a physical game, but none of the fouls were egregious or vindictive.
the only person i saw who complained about added on time was alan shearer.
I agree. Their right back made so many fouls and got absolutely nothing. There is a difference to jostling and playing at a high physical intensity to leaving hits on players and they were just getting away with it. The whole ‘lesser’ team bias is bullshit and really frustrating to see. We should’ve and would’ve put more past them if it wasn’t for an absurd VAR review not awarding a penalty.
Yeah, that bit was harsh from blogs.
But if he had written “crumbly shithole town” I would’ve just nodded in agreement.
Oh no, Tomi will be out for a while. That’s bad news. He was playing so well!
That really stinks, he was finally becoming a mainstay in this team and the back 4 with him and White was turning into this impenetrable fortress the type of which we haven’t seen since the days of Tony Adams and co. Hope “a while” means a month or so rather than deep into next year
Bit surprised, didn’t seem that bad at the time. But he is going to the Asian Cup soon so we’d be missing him anyway. Don’t get me wrong, I love him. And I got a free drink in a bar in Tokyo recently for wearing an Arsenal shirt and telling the bartender what I fan I am of Tomi
Especially with the run of fixtures we have coming up. I know this is the time of year with the cold, wet games that players tend to pick up more muscular injuries. Just hope he is not out more than four weeks, though I guess most likely he would come back from the Feb fixtures since we have so few in January. If White can’t go I wonder what the options to fill in will be.
We’ve still got Cedric!
Now the other teams can try to nibble at our five point lead! 😁
You know Rice has got to be feeling on top of the world after matching one of Lord Bendtner’s records; rarefied air indeed!
Here’s a quote, “We Owe West Ham some money. 100mil was just first installment. Happy to pay up. He’s worth 200mil on his form since start of the season.
Rice is Royalty. Just like Lord Bendtner.
Regent Rice!
There have to be three teams who’ll finish below Luton this season. They deserve another season in the epl for their efforts. I mean, it was easier beating M. United than these gallant soldiers.
Hopefully one will be city when the charges come in…
I like these “reaction” threads.
When we win
If Mikel wants a ball-playing goalkeeper he might as well put Martin Odegaard in goal. He’ll probably save as many as Raya and the distribution will be a lot better.
At the beginning of the season, Arteta made some comments regarding substitution of goalkeepers during games and how he thought that it should happen more often than it does today (i might be slightly paraphrasing here). If yesterdays game wasn’t a perfect example of a game were you could easily defend substituting the goalkeeper, I don’t know what is. Raya was really bad yesterday and of course, games like that happens to all goalkeepers. Besides the obvious errors that lead to the goal, I also think he looked very unsure throughout the game. The near refusal by Arteta to give… Read more »
I don’t remember Ramsdale,making as many errors as Raya
If Tomi’s out, force Cedric out the door, waste of wages & registration spot. Bring in someone who’ll give us an actual option
Mikel is a special manager with no spatial awareness.
Love it – Efficient and accurate assessment.
I love that Premier league team plays in that stadium.
I’ve seen bigger sheep sheds
I don’t know, I appreciated Luton for atleast not digging up their pitch, unlike some other small teams (Chelsea). The tackles weren’t AllarDyche style agricultural, but definitely snide. The referee should pick up on that, but he had more pressing matters – score-settling and corruption – to attend to.
So corrupt. I mean it is so clear that an opposition player could basically murder one of our guys on the pitch (Bruno even have that a crack) and VAR will do nothing; we’re not getting a penalty via review this season and maybe ever again. We just have to be that much better… Dam I hope we can do this… Watching these pundits, refs, fa clowns and the fucking oil tycoons squirm out excuses will be so satisfying.