Published on 06.12.2023
Declan Rice scored a crucial header in the dying moments of the match, dealing a heartbreaking blow to Luton and propelling Arsenal to a 4-3 victory at Kenilworth Road.
This win extends their lead in the Premier League by five points, putting them ahead of Liverpool and Manchester City.
Initially, it seemed like Arsenal might miss out on the opportunity to widen their advantage as Luton put up a strong fight. However, Rice’s goal came just 23 seconds into the seventh minute of added time, igniting jubilant celebrations among both fans and players.
💬 “It was a beautiful match of football. Congratulations to Luton, the atmosphere they created was electric, it was special."
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 5, 2023
The boss pays tribute to our opponents this evening 👇
Reflecting on this pivotal moment for Arsenal’s season, Rice acknowledged Luton’s strength as formidable opponents in the league due to their quality. He credited them for capitalizing on set pieces and exploiting defensive errors from his team. Despite this setback, he emphasized that scoring in the final minutes and maintaining momentum is crucial for Arsenal’s success this season.
Luton engaged in a competitive battle with the top-ranked team initially, but Arsenal seized an opportunity when Thomas Kaminski was forced to kick the ball out of play due to a subpar back pass. Bukayo Saka set up Gabriel Martinelli for the first goal in the 20th minute, undoing Luton’s commendable early efforts.
Despite this setback, Luton managed to respond promptly as Gabriel Osho scored with a header just five minutes later, bringing back the spirited atmosphere at Kenilworth Road. However, on the brink of halftime, Arteta’s team regained control as Gabriel Jesus headed home from close range to reclaim their lead and silence any resurgence from Luton.
