Rice saves Raya from costing Arsenal two points

 

Luton 3 Arsenal 4    
Premier League   
Tuesday 5th December 2023 8.15pm   

Musings on a dramatic win at Kenilworth Road…

 

What is it about this place? I’ve not checked this, but I am told Arsenal had not previously won a match away to Luton in their last 10 trips, which hardly seems credible. Then again, how many of those were played on plastic, or indeed with no away fans officially allowed in? The bookies heavily favoured an away win last night, but there was certainly a greater sense of realism amongst the traveling support. Yes, Arsenal should win this game, but the feeling was it was not going to be straightforward if they did. How right that proved. At least the game was on grass.

PGMOL agenda? One theory about last night that bears thinking about is that the referee (Samuel Barrot) is a relative newbie, and a more experienced head might have been more suitable for this fixture. I’ll quote a message sent to me: “And as for Arteta’s yellow card last night (and the Gabriel non-penalty) plus the allowed roughhouse tactics - more evidence of the PGMOL bias. Sending a weak young malleable ref to that game was not an accident.” Certainly, the officiating left a lot to be desired. Booking a manager for celebrating a goal? It’s not as if he went into the faces of the opposition bench to rub it in. 

A trip down memory lane. Kenilworth Road is old school. Granted, the access to the away stand between the houses and over their gardens is a bit unique, but, the ground being hemmed in on three sides by residential streets, the tin shed exterior, the floodlights from a distance and the narrow alley that ran alongside the length of the ground would have been a reminder of another age. It’s just as well everyone stands in the away section, because the leg room when you did sit down at half-time was on a par with Loftus Road. You really did had to be there, but with a capacity of 11,000. Those who were able to secure tickets can consider themselves fortunate to experience the ‘comforts’ of a bygone age.

 

A subdued home crowd. I was led to believe this was going to be something of a lions’ den in terms of the home support. Not sure if Arsenal first goal knocked a bit of the stuffing out of them, but even when they were in the ascendant, a moment of two of giving it large to the visiting support was about all the Hatters’ faithful could muster. Maybe the ref might have been even worse with more vocal pressure, so just as well. 

 

A mixed first half. You don’t want a match report here, so just to say that Martinelli’s opener was a lovely well-worked goal from a throw-in. Luton’s equaliser was distressing to watch given how much Arsenal had improved at defending corners. Martinelli went from hero to villain there, letting his man go. At least bodycheck him to stop the run. Order was restored at the very end of the half thanks to an excellent dinked cross from Ben White that Jesus finished with aplomb. The Gunners had dominated the play, put some excellent passing together, and deserved to be ahead.

 

Possession may be nine tenths of the law. But if you are going to gift the opposition goals with the crumbs they enjoy…
What can be said about Luton’s second and third goals? Simply that David Raya has to do better for both and if Ramsdale doesn’t get the nod for the game at Villa on Saturday, then it’s safe to say he will never be the Arsenal first choice keeper again, unless Raya gets crocked. 

 

The omens are good. Perhaps it is a sign that the Gunners’ poor defensive display in this match did not cost them points, that fate is on their side. There have been four wins out of the 11 they have won with goals after the 85^th minute. That’s eight extra points for not giving up.

 

Jesus the creator. Aside from his goal, the number 9 played a role in two of the other scores. His quick throw-in to Saka set up the first. His assist to get the ball to Havertz for Arsenal’s third goal, under physical pressure from his marker was top drawer. The goals may be spread around the team, but in the calls for Arteta to buy another forward, his contribution cannot be underestimated.

 

Just the two subs. Zinchenko and Trossard replaced Kiwior and a battered Martinelli around the 64th minute. Zinchenko was hugely influential in Arsenal’s ability to move the ball forward, and played a part in the winning goal. There are times when with him and Rice providing the axis of Arsenal’s midfield, the team really tick. The bench wasn’t too strong last night, but 13 men were enough to secure the points.

Spreading the goals around. It’s a strange thing, but with the 33 goals scored so far this season, nobody has scored more than once per game, a reflection that the team is not reliant on one player for goals. I had a rough tot up and (I may be one out here) but not including own goals, 13 different Arsenal players have found the net so far this season in the Premier League. That’s incredible just over a third of the way through the campaign.

 

Never say die. The winner was late for sure. You sensed the referee was waiting for the final attack to break down before blowing for full time, and cometh the moment, cometh the man. Declan Rice has been a giant for the team all season and looks like £100m plus well invested. Not only that, but he is also scoring more often than he used to at West Ham, with three so far this season. Odegaard’s cross for the last gasp winner was a bit of a percentage ball given the sheer number of bodies in the area, including both Gunners’ centre backs, but it was as accurate as could be asked for. The moment the ball went in was one to remember and the celebrations were off the scale. The players ran to the corner where the disabled fans were watching from a pen front of the standing supporters, and I worried a bit for them as the area was swamped by ecstatic fans hugging the players. It was a fantastic communal celebration, with the goal just maybe one we will look back upon as a key moment in the campaign, along with the other late, late winners. One thing about this team – they never give up. The disappointments of last season have not dented their belief.

 

The fixture dice fall nicely. Villa are at home to Manchester City this evening. No easy game. Unai Emery’s side have a day less to recover before facing Arsenal. The same with Guardiola’s players who, ironically, visit Luton at the weekend. It’s going to be an interesting few days ahead before we can relax with the jolly that Eindhoven (via Amsterdam, naturally) has become.

 

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