The signing of the summer, who was unquestionably signed, saved the majority of individuals. As it seemed like Mikel Arteta would be subject to yet another investigation about his goalkeeping selections, Declan Rice emerged with an incredible header deep into extra time to give Arsenal a thrilling 4-3 victory against Luton Town on Tuesday night.
On an evening when the Gunners’ resolve was put to the test, two errors by David Raya that allowed a determined Luton to transform a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead had threatened to define the game. Raya seems to be struggling more and more with the attention that followed his unexpected loan transfer from Brentford, taking Aaron Ramsdale’s spot as the Gunners’ top player even if the latter did not do anything to earn such harsh treatment.
To put it plainly, Arteta believes Raya is an improvement over Arsenal in both possession and all-around skill. However, Raya made a huge mistake here that might have easily lost Arsenal two crucial points in the Premier League championship fight. Still, Rice revised the original text. The 24-year-old, who cost £105 million to acquire from West Ham, scored a spectacular goal with a diving header in the seventh of six remaining minutes after Martin Odegaard’s exquisite cross. The precious win puts Arteta’s team five points ahead at the top of the league for at least the next day.
“This is the incredible thing about football, emotions and what you live together with a lot of people,” Arteta said. “That evening was unique. We are grateful for Luton’s atmosphere, coaching style, and ability to make things tough for us, but we managed to prevail. The squad shown amazing resiliency, character, quality, and winning mentality.
“There are expectations when you have to play every three days and win every game. It’s their methodical approach. The extent of their desire. They are quite eager, and we discussed halftime and the things we wanted them to do better. It works better sometimes than not.
Although Rice was not acquired for his ability to score goals, this game-winning play may now be added to crucial saves against Chelsea and Manchester United to secure points that seem very important considering the 96-100 objective Arteta has set for this team to win the championship. This was Arsenal’s most recent away game-winning goal in Premier League history. The England midfielder and Douglas Luiz are the only two players with multiple league goals at least six minutes into second-half stoppage-time this season.
Arteta responds that he still expects one more from him when asked whether he will be a member of two late wins. “Triple! Thus, one more remains. It will occur,” he said. “I’m not sure when. Once again, he played a fantastic game. Every week, he demonstrates leadership and quality, and it gets better and better every game. And he has the skill and scent to put the ball in the back of the goal when he’s in the other team’s box.”
It is evidence of his unwavering drive. Because of his physicality, Arsenal should have been able to contain Luton’s set-piece threat much more effectively than they did at Kenilworth Road. Five minutes after Gabriel Osho headed into Alfie Doughty’s corner, Gabriel Martinelli gave the visitors a 20-minute lead. At the end of the half, Gabriel Jesus skillfully regained Arsenal’s advantage, but they were unable to draw a lesson from it.
Four minutes into the second half, another Doughty delivery saw Raya flail helplessly, leaving Elijah Adebayo with an easy finish. After exchanging passes with Andros Townsend, former Chelsea player Ross Barkley, who pushed Luton forward all game, fired a low effort that passed past Raya much too easily.
According to those with knowledge of the transfer, Raya’s permanent signing is expected to happen soon, and Arteta is adamant that Raya is a better player than Ramsdale, who built his reputation by participating in all 38 games as Arsenal nearly won the Premier League title the previous season. The transfer is merely formal. Although Arteta would not, predictably, be drawn on Raya’s errors, Rice’s goal could not completely conceal the problem.
“We have to defend better the situations as a team,” he said. “Some things are leading to the objectives. Blaming is not the point. We won’t do it now, just as we have never done it. It matters how the team responds since it is inevitable. I adore that reply.
Following his slow start following a summer move from Chelsea, Kai Havertz equalized at the hour mark. This was another positive development for him. However, during the wild celebrations that followed Rice’s header, Arteta was booked for his third yellow card of the season. As a result, he will not be allowed to watch the match on Saturday against Aston Villa. Takehiro Tomiyasu will also be absent—possibly for an extended period of time—after a scan revealed that his injury to his calf was the cause of his absence.
After a night in which Arsenal’s fighting abilities ultimately showed through, they will start their match against Villa with a commanding lead at the top of the league. Rice is used to more traditional forms of leadership, such as positional discipline, touch-tackling, and a fierce desire to win. At full time, Rice offered his struggling goalkeeper a bearhug. Raya felt secure in the knowledge that his teammate had protected him from the full brunt of a chastening encounter as the two of them departed the Kenilworth Road field together.
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