Premier League: Arsenal climbs above Liverpool after beating Luton Town 2-0

Arsenal returned to the highest of the Premier League for a day a minimum of after dispatching relegation-threatened Luton 2-0 on Wednesday.

Martin Odegaard’s opener and an personal aim by Daiki Hashioka within the first half meant it was a snug night for the hosts as Arsenal provisionally moved one level forward of Liverpool within the tight three-way race for the title.

Third-place Manchester Metropolis additionally stayed one level behind Arsenal after beating Aston Villa 4-1 on Wednesday, whereas Liverpool can reclaim the lead when it hosts last-place Sheffield United on Thursday.

Going through a workforce within the relegation zone, Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta took the chance to rotate his workforce and made 5 adjustments to the aspect that drew 0-0 at Man Metropolis on Sunday. Bukayo Saka was omitted of the squad utterly after selecting up a knock on the Etihad Stadium.

The sport was nonetheless all however determined earlier than halftime.

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Arsenal took the lead within the twenty fourth when Emile Smith Rowe received possession in midfield and fed Odegaard, who exchanged passes with Kai Havertz earlier than firing a low shot contained in the close to put up.

Smith Rowe was closely concerned within the second in addition to he drove alongside the left byline within the forty fourth earlier than attempting to select the charging Reiss Nelson, with Hashioka turning the ball into his personal internet as he tried to forestall his opponent from scoring.

Nelson was making his first Premier League begin since July of the pandemic-interrupted 2020 season and was initially introduced because the goalscorer — to an enormous cheer from the group — earlier than it was modified to an personal aim.

Luton has confirmed repeatedly this season that it might probably by no means be counted out of video games, with Arsenal needing a 97th-minute winner from Declan Rice to safe a 4-3 victory within the reverse fixture in December after the hosts had twice come again from a deficit.

There was no such drama this time, although, as Arsenal simply noticed out the win within the second half, with goalkeeper David Raya hardly troubled and Luton going scoreless for the primary time in 19 league video games.

“We managed to rotate and freshen the workforce up a bit. Those that got here in did actually, very well,” Arteta mentioned. “We scored two actually good targets within the first half, within the second half, due to the way in which they play, we didn’t get the appropriate rhythm.”

Luton stayed in 18th place, three factors from security.