Mikel Arteta had parked the bus to secure what he feels would be a crucial point in Arsenal’s Premier League title bid against Manchester City on Sunday. He tinkered hard with the engine to produce another result to keep things going.
Arsenal will need Liverpool to stall at some stage if they are to achieve their goal of winning their first championship in 20 years; Jürgen Klopp’s side next face Sheffield United at home on Thursday night. In the meanwhile, all Arsenal can do is focus on what they can control.
Emile Smith Rowe gets Arsenal rocking and rolling upon his comeback.Read More.Following the stress of the 0-0 draw against City, this was a smoother journey, with Arsenal regaining the top spot from Liverpool, and Arteta enjoying the influence of some of his lesser-used players.The manager made a season-high five changes to his starting XI, with opportunities for Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe, and Reiss Nelson. Arteta had rested several of his biggest firearms. Declan Rice did not start a league game for the first time this season; he came in as a substitute, as did Gabriel Martinelli. Bukayo Saka was fully rested.Smith Rowe contributed significantly to the outcome. He prompted Martin Ødegaard’s initial goal, and his pull-back led to Daiki Hashioka’s own goal just before half-time, thus ending the match. Smith Rowe received a standing ovation when Arteta withdrew him at the conclusion.
It was difficult to overlook Arteta’s selection of the evening’s primary themes. If his Luton opponent, Rob Edwards, had described it as “the biggest challenge” he had ever faced as he dealt with a crippling injury problem – he lost 11 players and loaded the bench with four juveniles – then Arteta’s glass was full to brim, with just Jurrien Timber missing. On Monday, Arteta discussed the necessity of his squad’s depth as the matches came thick and fast. This was why.Luton did everything right in the first half of the first half. They were compact and committed in their 5-4-1 formation, with Arsenal displaying little attacking potential. This made Luton’s first 24-minute concession even more difficult to accept. The creation was down to some old-fashioned hustle by Smith Rowe, who robbed Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 10 yards into the Luton half.
View the image in fullscreen.Ødegaard celebrates scoring the first goal for Arsenal in their triumph. Photograph: Frank Augstein/AP.When Smith Rowe feed Ødegaard, Luton were stretched, and how well the Arsenal captain managed the transition, giving to Kai Havertz, going left and gaining the ball back, with the shooting opportunity now there. Ødegaard cut across it with the outside of his left boot, leaving Thomas Kaminski impotent.Luton made Arsenal work in the first half, with Smith Rowe and Nelson receiving praise for tracking back to retrieve possession. The visitors attempted to play, primarily through Ross Barkley.
But Arsenal had the deeper gears, and they switched into them to take a two-goal lead into the break.Edwards was unimpressed when Arsenal continued when William Saliba surged into Hashioka; the Japanese defender, who was beginning only his second Premier League game, was unable to recover. Ødegaard sent the ball to Smith Rowe, who was denied by Kaminski. Teden Mengi made a crucial block to stop Nelson on the rebound.Hashioka suffered more toward the end of the half. By then, Havertz had worked Kaminski following a fantastic piece of Ben White play in the buildup, and Alfie Doughty had gained a key foothold on Partey inside the area. Doughty had gotten himself in trouble on an Arsenal corner before resolving the problem.Luton were enraged when Leandro Trossard released Smith Rowe along the byline, who cut back for Nelson, who was being tracked by Hashioka. Nelson was unable to complete the cross because it was too strong for him. Unfortunately, Hashioka did.
Luton’s season has been defined by their never-say-die spirit. Edwards says he always wants his team to score the last goal, for them to fight until the end and, as usual, they did so. The only problem was their lack of cutting edge in the final third. When they got that far, usually with no men ahead of the ball, it was as if they did not know what to do next. The belief, as well as the options, was not there. Luton usually score. They had done so in each of their previous 18 league games. Not here.
Arsenal were comfortable. So, too, were their supporters, who definitely did not live this game like the one at City on Sunday. The second half passed largely without incident, the biggest thing being Havertz’s yellow card for a lamentable dive. Takehiro Tomiyasu, on as a substitute, bent a shot wide and another replacement, Eddie Nketiah, extended Kaminski at the near post. In between times, Gabriel Magalhães blocked a shot from Hashioka and that was that.
