Arsenal 2-0 Luton City: Gunners overcome Bukayo Saka’s absence to return to the highest

Arsenal overcame the absence of Bukayo Saka to maneuver again to the highest of the Premier League desk with victory over struggling Luton at Emirates Stadium.

Captain Martin Odegaard fired the hosts into the lead within the twenty fourth minute after Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu was bundled off the ball by Emile Smith Rowe, earlier than the Gunners doubled their benefit shortly earlier than half-time.

Japan defender Daiki Hashioka inadvertently put previous his personal keeper Thomas Kaminski within the forty fourth minute whereas attempting to cease Reiss Nelson after Smith Rowe was afforded an excessive amount of house within the penalty space.

Luton have been decimated by accidents to the extent that that they had 16-year-old schoolboy defender Christian Chigozie on the substitutes bench.

They by no means allowed Arsenal to run away with it, whereas Gunners keeper David Raya was pressured to maintain out Ross Barkley’s free-kick on the stroke of half-time.

Arsenal, nevertheless, have been largely untroubled as they moved on to 68 factors – one level away from Liverpool, who play bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United at Anfield on Thursday (19:30 BST kick-off).

Gunners get the job performed

Having seen Arsenal at their defensive finest to frustrate title rivals Manchester Metropolis in Sunday’s hard-fought goalless draw at Etihad Stadium, the Gunners returned to goalscoring kind towards Luton.

With simply three factors separating the highest three at first of the day, objective distinction may play an important function on this most enthralling of title races.

Arsenal’s twenty first Premier League win of the season moved them on to plus-48, whereas Liverpool are on plus-40 and Manchester Metropolis, who have been in motion in a while Wednesday towards Aston Villa, began the day on plus-35.

Arteta made 5 adjustments for the go to of relegation-threatened Luton, with the likes of Declan Rice, Gabriel Jesus and Jorginho given a relaxation earlier than a busy spell of video games which incorporates two mouth-watering fixtures with Bayern Munich within the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Whereas Arsenal will hope Saka is again for Saturday’s recreation at Brighton, they received the job performed towards Luton with out an excessive amount of drama and with a few of their fringe gamers getting a primary outing for a while.

Nelson was handed his first Premier League begin since 2020 whereas Partey and Smith Rowe each made uncommon begins.

But it’s Kai Havertz who continues to impress.

The German confirmed why he has such an necessary function to play on the enterprise finish of the season with one other help so as to add to his eight Premier League targets when he teed-up Odegaard to set Arsenal on their approach.

No shame however Luton should begin successful once more

Arsenal away was by no means going to be simple for Luton, whose ludicrous harm checklist left them with out the providers of 11 gamers, and a 2-0 defeat to a crew chasing a Premier League and Champions League double is not any shame.

Though the hosts have been comfy winners ultimately, Rob Edwards’ patched-up aspect arrived with a plan and made the Gunners work laborious for his or her win.

It’s a credit score to Edwards and his gamers that the crew with the smallest funds within the Premier League nonetheless have a preventing likelihood of staying up with seven matches left.

However the Hatters, who’re three factors from security, are actually with out a victory in 10 Premier League video games and should discover a strategy to begin successful once more.

This Saturday’s house match with in-form Bournemouth is essential, as are the house video games that comply with towards Brentford (20 April), Everton (4 Might) and Fulham on the ultimate day on 19 Might.

Participant of the match

SalibaWilliam Saliba

Luton City

1. Squad quantity6Participant titleBarkley

2. Squad quantity10Participant titleWoodrow

3. Squad quantity18Participant titleClark

4. Squad quantity30Participant titleTownsend

5. Squad quantity9Participant titleMorris

6. Squad quantity45Participant titleDoughty

7. Squad quantity32Participant titleOnyedinma

8. Squad quantity24Participant titleKaminski

9. Squad quantity12Participant titleKaboré

10. Squad quantity14Participant titleChong

11. Squad quantity15Participant titleMengi

12. Squad quantity17Participant titleMpanzu

13. Squad quantity27Participant titleHashioka

14. Squad quantity8Participant titleBerry