Arsenal return to top with victory over Luton
Martin Odegaard scored his 30th Premier League goal for Arsenal. He is the ninth player from Norway to reach the milestoneArsenal overcame the absence of Bukayo Saka to move back to the top of the Premier League table with victory over struggling Luton at Emirates Stadium.
Leading scorer Saka was missing after suffering a knock against Manchester City at the weekend, but Mikel Arteta’s much-changed side did enough to rout their hard-working opponents and move back above Liverpool at the summit.
Captain Martin Odegaard fired the hosts into the lead in the 24th minute after Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu was bundled off the ball by Emile Smith Rowe, before the Gunners doubled their advantage shortly before half-time.
Japan defender Daiki Hashioka inadvertently put past his own keeper Thomas Kaminski in the 44th minute while trying to stop Reiss Nelson after Smith Rowe was afforded too much space in the penalty area.
Luton were decimated by injuries to the extent that they had 16-year-old schoolboy defender Christian Chigozie on the substitutes bench.
They never allowed Arsenal to run away with it, while Gunners keeper David Raya was forced to keep out Ross Barkley’s free-kick on the stroke of half-time.
Arsenal, however, were largely untroubled as they moved on to 68 points – one point clear of Liverpool, who play bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United at Anfield on Thursday (19:30 BST kick-off).
Manchester City are third, also on 67 points, after they defeated Aston Villa 4-1 on Wednesday.
Relive Arsenal-Luton Town, plus the rest of Wednesday’s Premier League actionHow did you rate Arsenal’s performance? Have your say hereWhat did you make of Luton’s display? Send your comments on the Hatters
Gunners get the job doneHaving seen Arsenal at their defensive best to frustrate title rivals Manchester City in Sunday’s hard-fought goalless draw at Etihad Stadium, the Gunners returned to goalscoring form against Luton.
With just three points separating the top three at the start of the day, goal difference could play a vital role in this most enthralling of title races.
Arsenal’s 21st Premier League win of the season moved them on to plus-48, while Liverpool are on plus-40 and Manchester City are on plus-38.
Arteta made five changes for the visit of relegation-threatened Luton, with the likes of Declan Rice, Gabriel Jesus and Jorginho given a rest before a busy spell of games which includes two mouth-watering fixtures with Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
While Arsenal will hope Saka is back for Saturday’s game at Brighton, they got the job done against Luton without too much drama and with some of their fringe players getting a first outing for some time.
Nelson was handed his first Premier League start since 2020 while Partey and Smith Rowe both made rare starts.
Yet it is Kai Havertz who continues to impress.
The German showed why he has such an important role to play at the business end of the season with another assist to add to his eight Premier League goals when he teed-up Odegaard to set Arsenal on their way.
He has now been directly involved in 12 goals in the Premier League this season (8 goals, 4 assists), the most he has contributed in a single season in the competition.
Join BBC Sport’s WhatsApp channelsNo disgrace but Luton must start winning againArsenal away was never going to be easy for Luton, whose ludicrous injury list left them without the services of 11 players, and a 2-0 defeat to a team chasing a Premier League and Champions League double is no disgrace.
Although the hosts were comfortable winners in the end, Rob Edwards’ patched-up side arrived with a plan and made the Gunners work hard for their win.
It is a credit to Edwards and his players that the team with the smallest budget in the Premier League still have a fighting chance of staying up with seven matches left.
But the Hatters, who are three points from safety, are now without a victory in 10 Premier League games and must find a way to start winning again.
This Saturday’s home match with in-form Bournemouth is crucial, as are the home games that follow against Brentford (20 April), Everton (4 May) and Fulham on the final day on 19 May.
Player of the match
SalibaWilliam Saliba
with an average of 7.54
Squad number2Player nameSaliba
Squad number8Player nameØdegaard
Squad number10Player nameSmith Rowe
Squad number41Player nameRice
Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães
Squad number4Player nameWhite
Squad number19Player nameTrossard
Squad number11Player nameGabriel Martinelli
Squad number18Player nameTomiyasu
Squad number29Player nameHavertz
Squad number20Player nameJorginho
Squad number24Player nameNelson
Squad number5Player namePartey
Squad number35Player nameZinchenko
Squad number14Player nameNketiah
Squad number22Player nameRaya
Luton TownSquad number6Player nameBarkley
Squad number10Player nameWoodrow
Squad number18Player nameClark
Squad number30Player nameTownsend
Squad number9Player nameMorris
Squad number45Player nameDoughty
Squad number32Player nameOnyedinma
Squad number24Player nameKaminski
Squad number12Player nameKaboré
Squad number14Player nameChong
Squad number15Player nameMengi
Squad number17Player nameMpanzu
Squad number27Player nameHashioka
Squad number8Player nameBerry
Line-upsArsenalFormation 4-3-3
22Raya4White2Saliba6Gabriel35ZinchenkoSubstituted forTomiyasuat 74’minutes8Ødegaard5ParteySubstituted forRiceat 67’minutes10Smith RoweSubstituted forJorginhoat 85’minutes24NelsonSubstituted forMartinelliat 75’minutes29HavertzBooked at 66minsSubstituted forNketiahat 66’minutes19TrossardSubstitutes1Ramsdale9Gabriel Jesus11Martinelli14Nketiah15Kiwior18Tomiyasu20Jorginho21Fábio Vieira41RiceLutonFormation 3-4-2-1
24Kaminski27Hashioka15Mengi12Kaboré32OnyedinmaBooked at 74minsSubstituted forWoodrowat 75’minutes17MpanzuSubstituted forChongat 53’minutes6Barkley45Doughty30TownsendSubstituted forBerryat 81’minutes18Clark9MorrisSubstitutes1Shea8Berry10Woodrow14Chong23Krul38Johnson42Chigozie43Nelson44PiesoldReferee:Craig Pawson
Attendance:60,262
Match StatsLive TextMatch ends, Arsenal 2, Luton Town 0.
Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Luton Town 0.
Attempt missed. Ross Barkley (Luton Town) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Daiki Hashioka with a cross.
Attempt missed. Luke Berry (Luton Town) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Issa Kaboré with a cross.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Thomas Kaminski.
Attempt saved. Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jorginho.
William Saliba (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Carlton Morris (Luton Town).
Attempt blocked. Daiki Hashioka (Luton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution, Arsenal. Jorginho replaces Emile Smith Rowe.
Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Daiki Hashioka (Luton Town).
Foul by Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal).
Alfie Doughty (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Luton Town. Luke Berry replaces Andros Townsend.
Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Daiki Hashioka (Luton Town).
Attempt missed. Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Leandro Trossard.
Foul by Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).
Ross Barkley (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
