"What a match, what a performance, what a show of character from Mikel Arteta's side."

Àbove is the very words of the commentator as the match ended yesterday. Arsenal's last goal was heavily celebrated by Raya(the goalkeeper) who ran from his post to the opposite end of the pitch.

Now it was a hotly contested match between Arsenal and Luton Town. Luton playing at home, their about 12,000 capacity stadium really makes you see the fans as the 12th player for Luton. Luton had not lost their last two home games, drawing with the mighty Liverpool and beating Crystal Palace.

Well, when I say hotly contested, it isn't that they could stand Arsenal stride for stride in ball distribution and control of the match, Arsenal were the dominant team in this regard. I call it a hotly contest because both teams had a similar weakness– their defence!

Interestingly, eventhough both teams were weak in thesame department, there was still a difference. Whilst Raya was the greatest weaklink, Luton's goalkeeper was their strongest point– what a commanding performance by him!

Then Arsenal's right-back, Ben White, was quite soft when being attacked as he often kept retreating dangerously into his goal area. Meanwhile his counterpart in Luton wasn't doing badly against the rampant Martinelli. Infact he was the reason Martinelli had to be taken off in the second half,
as his tackle on Martinelli in the first half(which the ref saw as quite innocuous) ensured Martinelli received a discomfort that continued with him, till Arteta stepped in to deliver him from his misery by substituting him, Trossard coming in.

The match ended 4–3, in Arsenal's favour.
All seven goals are easily traceable to defensive frailties. It is especially concerning for Arsenal who had the best defensive record this season, coming into this match.

Oh David Raya

The first goal was from a corner-kick(though Luton are dangerous with these), Martinelli carelessly lost his man, Osho, and he nodded it in even without jumping, even when he wasn't the closest Luton player to the goalkeeper. I could almost blame Raya here, as the player headed it from quite a distance in the box, but let me spare him– I assume he didn't see it early as about two Luton and Arsenal players were in front of Osho.

Luton's second and third goals, Raya can't escape blames here.

The second goal was from another corner-kick. Raya went out to pluck the ball from the air, he jumped and inexplicably his hands found the face area of a Luton player who nodded the ball in easily. I don't understand the kind of calculation Raya did there.

The third goal was from Raya's right and ofcourse the Ben White's area, it was the outstanding Ross Barkley on the ball with two Arsenal players on him. There wasn't room enough to do much other than attempt a shot– which he did– straight at Raya. How the shot squirmed under Raya's body, nobody knows. The defenders had made it difficult for Barkley, so that leaving him with only one small angle for a shot, a shot the goalkeeper will see well and save.

So by the 90th minute, it was 3–3 and the announcement blared in the stadium that it will be 6 minutes of stoppages added. By that time, Luton had made three substitutions on the hour mark– it seemed like premeditated subs because their team was doing so well before these subs. Fresh legs can't buy the experience of a seasoned EPL campaigner like Townsend who has substituted off.

Well Arsenal kept pushing till the end of the 6 minutes of stoppages and the ref was getting set to end the game. It was one last chance in open play– Zinchenko(who came in for Kiwior) and Odegaard exchanged passes, then it was returned to Odegaard, who quickly lifted the ball into a crowded penalty area and it was that man, Declan Rice, who rose to the ball(above Osho, interestingly) and had to plant a skillful header because, Luton's keeper was terrific that night. It was a very well directed header onto the far corner from about the centre of the goal, the goalie dived disparingly towards the ball, but no way it was in and what an eruption of joy from the Arsenal camp. Luton were shattered, a few players dropped to the pitch instantly. They had given their all, they had done very well, I can't lie.

Well that's my brief account on one side of the happenings that day. Maybe someone else will tell you how good people like Gabriel Jesus, Saliba,Odegaard, Rice...were on the day.

My note somewhere before the match, after I saw the line-up was– "Not bad. Sensible rotation. Perhaps someday it cud be Ramsdale for these types. Let's go mighty Geeeeezzz"

Well, a poor Raya today, but this team must just play on.

THIS IS ARSENAL

Cheers