Arsenal scored a 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Luton to shoot to the top of the Premier League table as a result.
The win gives Arsenal one point ahead of second-placed Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s side meet Sheffield United on Thursday at Anfield with the chance to reclaim the lead, but for now, it is Arsenal at the summit, sealing victory via Martin Odegaard’s first-half strike and a Daiki Hashioka own goal.
Mikel Arteta made five changes for the visit of the Hatters, who caused the Gunners untold problems in the reverse fixture at Kenilworth Road, but this contest was far more one-sided. Arsenal barely got out of second gear and Arteta got the luxury of rotating without it impacting performance.
The opener was scored by the hosts’ outstanding captain in the 24th minute.
The lesser used Emile Smith Rowe – making his first start since January – picked the pocket of Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu and fed Kai Havertz, who squared to Odegaard to side-foot home. In-form Havertz has now been involved in five goals in his last six appearances at the Emirates.
Arsenal’s second knocked the stuffing out of Rob Edwards’ depleted side (missing 11 senior players) entirely, with Smith Rowe involved again, as the forward escaped wide left and waited for the perfect moment to tease a cross towards the run of Reiss Nelson, forcing Hashioka to turn inadvertently into his own net.
Luton remain 18th, three points shy of safety, with seven games left to pull off an increasingly unlikely escape.
Arsenal made five changes from a battling 0-0 draw with Manchester City at the weekend.
Bukayo Saka was not involved at all, while Declan Rice and Jorginho were only named among the substitutes.
Oleksandr Zinchenko replaced Jakub Kiwior at full-back, alongside starts for Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson and Leandro Trossard.
Fred Onyedinma made his first Premier League start of the season in one of two Luton changes, as Daiki Hashioka also came into the team.
Having battled to a commendable goalless draw at Manchester City four days prior, suffering without the ball for the majority, Wednesday’s meeting with Luton was not a night for overexertion by title-chasing Arsenal, who remain unbeaten in 2024.
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