Arsenal vs Luton LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Gunners go top with win over Hatters

Arsenal 2-0 Luton Town: The Gunners move ahead of Liverpool after Martin Odegaard’s strike and Daiki Hashioka’s own goal

Arteta calls for Arsenal stars to show passion and enthusiasm in 'most beautiful part of the season’

Arsenal returned to the summit of the Premier League with a confident and comfortable display at the Emirates Stadium as they defeated Luton 2-0 in this midweek clash.

For the start Arsenal look in control, passing the ball slickly despite manager Mikel Arteta making five changes and leaving Bukayo Saka out of the matchday squad. Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard combined for the opener with the German squaring a pass to his captain who drilled home with 24 minutes on the clock.

The second came just before half-time and was slightly fortuitous. Emile Smith Rowe darting in from the left pulled a pass back that struck Daiki Hashioka and finished in the back of the net.

There were no nerves from the Gunners in the second half. The managed the game brilliantly, kept Luton’s chances to a minimum and secured all three points.

Relive the action below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:

Arsenal vs Luton LIVE

• Calm win over Luton shows how Mikel Arteta has learned from Arsenal’s previous title challenge
• Arsenal defeated Luton in the Premier League and moved back to top of the table
• 44’ GOAL! - Hashioka deflects the ball into his own net (ARS 2-0 LUT)
• 41’ SAVE! - Havertz’s shot is parried away by Kaminski (ARS 1-0 LUT)
• 34’ SAVE! - Kaminski denies Smith Rowe from close range (ARS 1-0 LUT)
• 24’ GOAL! - Odegaard drills Arsenal ahead (ARS 1-0 LUT)

[3 April 2024 17:25 · Mike Jones]

Arsenal vs Luton

The Hatters have lost their last 10 league games away to the Gunners, though the most recent such meeting was back in August 1991 at Highbury.

Can they end that streak and pull off an upset tonight?

[3 April 2024 17:20 · Mike Jones]

Arsenal vs Luton

Arsenal won the reverse fixture 4-3 and are vying to complete their first league double against Luton since 1983-84.

(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

[3 April 2024 17:15 · Mike Jones]

Mikel Arteta prepares Arsenal for ‘most beautiful part of the season’

Mikel Arteta accepts Arsenal may have to win each of their nine remaining Premier League fixtures to be crowned champions as he prepares for the “most beautiful part of the season”.

The second-placed Gunners sit two points behind leaders Liverpool ahead of a hectic April schedule following Sunday’s dogged goalless draw at title rivals Manchester City.

Manager Arteta, who also has a two-legged Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich to consider, wants his players to embrace the challenge, beginning on Wednesday evening at home to relegation-threatened Luton.

[3 April 2024 17:10 · Mike Jones]

Luton face ‘biggest challenge’ against Arsenal

Luton Town boss, Rob Edwards, says that the club’s growing injury list means that his team face of the the biggest challenges they’ve had when they travel to the Emirates tonight.

“We’re likely to have 11, 12 or 13 players out,” said Edwards at his Tuesday press conference, “We’ll probably have four teenagers on the bench – maybe more.

“This is the biggest challenge we’ve ever had. Of course we had the incident with Locks, but in terms of facing the best teams in the world in this period of injuries, it is.

“But we’re competing and it’s a challenge. It’ll be a big challenge – and Saturday will be as well. We know it is a massive task, we’re aware of the size of it.

“Arsenal are in great form and we’re going to have to defend really well but depleted as we are, it’s hard for us to be at our best when we’re missing so many players.”

[3 April 2024 17:05 · Mike Jones]

Arteta on Saka’s fitness

It’s good news for Arsenal fans as Bukayo Saka will be fit to feature against Luton. There were doubts over the winger ahead of the match against Manchester City but he played 78 minutes in that game and responded well.

Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta, was asked about Saka’s fitness and replied: “Yeah, he’s fine.

“Obviously, we haven’t trained, we’ve recovered and have a short live session today to prepare for the game, and we’ll see whether he’s in the best condition to start or not.”

[3 April 2024 17:00 · Mike Jones]

Premier League title race: How difficult are Arsenal’s remaining fixtures?

Arsenal

Points: 65

GD: +46

Avg. opponents PpG: 1.44

Difficulty: ★★★★

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Have Mikel Arteta’s side learnt their lesson from last season? The Gunners won just three of their final nine Premier League games last year, which included a four-game winless run, as they fell away in the title race.

But a 0-0 draw at the Etihad, where they were thrashed 4-1 last season, is a sign that Arsenal are tougher challengers than they were this time last year. The result might have given Liverpool the advantage, but it is a huge boost to Arteta’s men psychologically ahead of April and May.

There, Arsenal will also have to face tricky games against Aston Villa and Tottenham – their trip across north London on Sunday 28 April should be an epic. Visits to Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton and Gary O’Neil’s Wolves could be difficult, too, while Old Trafford looms large on the penultimate weekend of the season.

Arsenal lost the title away from home last season – with defeat at the Etihad and costly dropped points from winning positions at Anfield and the London Stadium. Their fate this season will be determined on the road again.

Participation in the latter stages of the Champions League will also make this season’s title race a different challenge. Arsenal will face Bayern Munich and Harry Kane in their first quarter-final since 2010, with the two legs falling either side of the home clash with Aston Villa on Sunday 14 April.

A result of Arsenal’s stunning attacking form – with eight wins in a row in the Premier League before the City draw – is the Gunners now possess the best goal difference in the Premier League. That could be crucial.

[3 April 2024 16:55 · Mike Jones]

Arsenal’s tedious display against Manchester City epitomises Mikel Arteta’s growing ambition

Arsenal could savour the tedium. On a weekend overflowing with goals, the dullest game may prove the most consequential. If the day’s great winners were Liverpool in one respect, as Arsenal were dislodged from the Premier League summit, as their 100 per cent record in 2024 ended, they showed their staying power.

Arsenal did not win their war of attrition but they at least ensured they did not lose it. Last season’s title challenge suffered unmendable damage against Manchester City. This year’s tilt did not. Mikel Arteta has suffered through eviscerations at the Etihad in the past. As Arsenal collected the first point there in Pep Guardiola’s reign, the champions were unable to breach Arteta’s red wall.

[3 April 2024 16:50 · Mike Jones]

Arteta calls for passion and enthusiasm from Arsenal stars in ‘most beautiful part of the season’

Mikel Arteta accepts Arsenal may have to win each of their nine remaining Premier League fixtures to be crowned champions as he prepares for the “most beautiful part of the season”.

The second-placed Gunners sit two points behind leaders Liverpool ahead of a hectic April schedule following Sunday’s dogged goalless draw at title rivals Manchester City.

[3 April 2024 16:45 · Mike Jones]

Arsenal vs Luton prediction

Despite needing a late goal from Declan Rice to earn them a win at Kenilworth Road, Arsenal should have enough quality, confidence and desire to easily get the job done this evening against a struggling Luton side.

Arsenal 3-1 Luton.

[3 April 2024 16:40 · Mike Jones]

Arsenal vs Luton predicted line-ups

Arsenal XI: Raya; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard.

Luton XI: Kaminski; Kabore, Hashioka, Mengi, Johnson; Mpanzu, Barkley, Clark; Townsend, Morris, Woodrow.