Rice breaks Luton hearts after astonishing finish to epic contest
Luton Town (1) 3 Osho 25, Adebayo 49, Barkley 57
Arsenal (2) 4 Martinelli 20, Jesus 45, Havertz 60, Rice 90+7
Another day, another dull, predictable evening of Premier League football.
In a crazy game which typifies the gung-ho effervescence of the Premier League right now, Declan Rice's last-gasp header from Martin Odegaard's Hail Mary curling cross in the seventh minute of injury time settled an absolute classic.
The away bench erupted in delight, as did the away fans. The joy given added feeling because this had looked like a game that had slipped away from the Gunners. Credit Luton for that. They belied their lowly status with a magnificent effort which probably deserved a draw.
Arsenal entered the mayhem of a raucous Kenilworth Road with high hopes of extending their lead at the top to five points over Liverpool. Instead, they were involved in an old-fashioned scrap as the Hatters conjured up a world of problems for Mikel Arteta's men.
It had the feel of an FA Cup tie where the lower league side, backed by ferocious home support, manage to defy the odds.
Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal the lead after a quick throw-in from Jesus released Saka for a cross that the Brazilian - clattered in the back in the opening moments - put away with aplomb.
But the gunners allowed Gabriel Osho to head in a corner from Alfie Doughty to level it and it needed another piece of slick football to regain the lead - Jesus powering in a far post header after Ben White's scamper down the right was matched by a perfect cross.
The game, though, was turned on its head when Elijah Adebayo again got the better of the away defence in the air from another Doughty corner and the excellent Ross Barkley angled a shot past David Raya.
Kai Havert'z equaliser was followed by total domination from the visitors as they rained in 26 shots on goal in total against a visibly tiring home side, but it looked like a winner had eluded them. Until it didn't.
Luton will feel hard done by. They felt ref Sam Barratt was too tough on them for their side's undoubtedly robust approach. But allied to the nous of old stagers Barkley and Andros Townsend in midfield, it made for an uncomfortable night for the harrassed league leaders.
Twice Luton plundered goals from headers at corners and their unease at set pieces was compounded by dreadful keeping from Raya. If Aaron Ramsdale does depart in January, Arsenal's options will suddenly look very thin.
Raya was beaten too easily in the air for Luton's second goal, then he allowed a shot from Barkley to squirm underneath him and into the net for Luton's third. He will have been a relieved man at the final whistle.
The Hatters had already shown they have an appetite for games like these - having taken a point off Liverpool in front of those noisy Hatters fans. Their effort was phenomenal and they will feel they deserved to hang on for a point.
The Gunners travel to Villa next for what will be a huge test of a different kind on Saturday. They will be without Arteta on the sidelines, who was booked for encroaching on the pitch during the wild celebrations which followed Rice's winner.
In the immediate aftermath of this breathless encounter, it is doubtful the Spaniard will care that much.
Hatters: (3-4-2-1) Kaminski - Mengi, Osho, Bell - Kabore, Mpanzu (Clark 88), Barkley, Doughty (Giles 88) - Townsend (Ogbene 62), Brown (Chong 61) - Adebayo (Morris 61)
Gunners: (4-3-3) Raya - White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior (Zinchenko 64) - Odegaard, Rice, Havertz - Saka, Jesus, Martinelli (Trossard 64)
Attendance: 11,112
