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

LONDON (AP) — Arsenal returned to the highest of the Premier League for a day no less than after dispatching relegation-threatened Luton 2-0 on Wednesday.

Martin Odegaard’s opener and an personal purpose by Daiki Hashioka within the first half meant it was a cushty 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.

Dealing with a crew within the relegation zone, Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta took the chance to rotate his crew and made 5 modifications to the facet that drew 0-0 at Man Metropolis on Sunday. Bukayo Saka was neglected of the squad utterly after choosing up a knock on the Etihad Stadium.

The sport was nonetheless all however determined earlier than halftime.

Arsenal took the lead within the twenty fourth when Emile Smith Rowe gained 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 making an attempt to pick the charging Reiss Nelson, with Hashioka turning the ball into his personal web as he tried to stop 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 gang — earlier than it was modified to an personal purpose.

Luton has confirmed again and again this season that it could actually 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 crew up a bit. Those that got here in did actually, very well,” Arteta stated. “We scored two actually good targets within the first half, within the second half, due to the best way they play, we didn’t get the precise rhythm.”

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

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