please log in to view this image Venue: Kenilworth Road Date: Tuesday 5th December 2023 KO time: 20:15 GMT Overall Record Wins: 27 Losses: 10 Draws: 11 Last six meetings Luton Town 1-0 Arsenal Arsenal 2-0 Luton Town Luton Town 1-1 Arsenal Arsenal 2-1 Luton Town Luton Town 2-0 Arsenal Arsenal 3-2 Luton Town please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Good to know we’ve got such a great record against Luton away (even if the last game was over 30 years ago )
One foul, one yellow. Standard. Christ. Luton would be down to four men if he applied that rule to them.
Really can't see how much longer Arteta can persist with Raya. Ramsdale looked so much better last season.
Nah. Ramsdale dropped loads of clangers last season. We're just blinded by his cheeky Northern Britishness. Neither are worldies, both are very good, neither will be top notch until the pressure goes by the other leaving. Problem for Ramsdale is he made clanger after clanger when he was undisputed #1. Arteta ain't going to drop Raya until he's had that chance too. Ramsdale definitely getting sold.
It was on the cards tonight was a potential banana skin, well done on the never say die attitude and Rice we love ya! Now, enough of Raya..... Arteta loaned Raya on the basis the goalkeeping position is no different to outfields, perform your in, make mistakes your dropped. Now is the time to give Ramsdale the chance and lay down the marker. C'mon Arteta, have the balls to rotate as when when necessary - your words!! UNLESS Ramsdale has done Arteta's wife up the bum behind his back and then he may as well move Ramsdale on, be fair to the guy, c'mon! COYG!!
Didn't you have key defenders out for chunks of last season? Also didn't have Rice strengthening the midfield? I'd have expected more from Raya to justify keeping Ramsdale out for as long as he has.
Declan Rice doesn't make you do clangers, like his ones against Brighton. I don't think Raya will ever peak with Ramsdale there. Arteta has a decision to make.
Tottenham are far more fruitful for me.. think I'll fall back for a year or two on Arsenal. I'll be back.
I don't think fans are being fair. Ramsdale made an error in his last game that ALMOST costs us two goals and they make a big deal about it. Raya was actually responsible for two of the goals we conceded last night. Still think Ramsdale is the better keeper and at 25 he's still improving.
Having competition for places should make you better. Not worse. The problem here is I don't think it's treated like any other position. I feel like Arteta will stick with Raya regardless of performances now - hopefully i'm wrong and he's not that stubborn though.
Declan Rice really feels like a big game player. He seems to thrive in those moments. He's a like a DM version of Gerrard in that regard.
I’m travelling at the moment so I’ve not been as active, but I saw some highlights of the game and I think we should have put this to bed well before Rice scored in the dying seconds. Some profligate finishing, weak defending and two howlers from Raya is what continued to even make it a contest. Offensively, we looked strong. Defensively, yeah wasn’t good. Luton battled well and gave us a real good game, but I don’t think anyone can begrudge us this victory. Also, Ben White for that Barkley goal…that was disgraceful defending. Doesn’t close him down quick enough, doesn’t shut down the angle and gives him the space to get a shot off. Raya should have still saved it, but Barkley should never have gotten a shot off in the first place. Not good enough from White and, even though I rate him a lot, he’s done this stupidness a couple of times this season. We should have had a penalty when Gabriel’s shirt was being pulled in the box. I don’t know why these never get given, it really irritates me. It’s a foul. Anywhere else on the pitch it’s a foul. As for Raya…look, I don’t think either Raya or Ramsdale are good enough for the aspirations we have, and I think Raya needs to be upgraded on too because he just doesn’t command his box. It’s clear we can’t trust him in the more physical games. His pass selection, variety and balls over the top to beat the press are great. He’s also good as acting as a 3rd CB when we push up. But I’ve not been impressed with his actual goalkeeping capabilities and that’s a concern. Just like it’s been my concern with Ramsdale. The positives: Martinelli, Jesus, Saka are were lively and caused mayhem all game. They all contributed to our goals. Odegaard stepped up when needed. Havertz with another very good performance and important goal - let’s hope he keeps this up because I’ll be eating my own words at this rate. Rice…running out of words to describe him. He’s just an utterly incredible player and can do everything. What a guy. Important win, especially with Villa beating City and City’s recent form. We’ve got a much sterner test coming up against Villa away next and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous for it. Defending has to be so much better. With Tomiyasu’s injury for 4-6 weeks, I think Zinchenko will start. Up against Bailey/Diaby, it doesn’t give me much belief he’s going to shackle him so I really hope Arteta has another plan for dealing with their speed, trickery and strength.
