Did that need to be anywhere near as hard as it was for Arsenal?
The Gunners were overwhelming favourites heading into Tuesday’s trip to Luton Town, but David Raya is clearly not one for narratives as he did his best to hand the minnows a deserved point before Declan Rice popped up to break the Hatters’ hearts.
It was a memorable game for a number of reasons but, for young Bukayo Saka, it was particularly special as the winger recorded his 200th appearance for Arsenal.
200 Arsenal appearances for Saka at 22 ๐ฌ
โ Sean (@seankolo99) December 5, 2023
Saka is on 200 games at just 22. We’re running him to the ground ๐
โ Superman (@IntermissionSly) December 5, 2023
22 years old, 200 appearances.
That’s crazy. Bukayo Saka, you’re something else.
โ AYO (@afc_ayo) December 5, 2023
Saka was involved in Arsenal’s opening goal, helping to pounce on a sloppy mistake from Luton’s defence and squaring for Gabriel Martinelli, who squeezed home with an unconventional strike.
It was just Martinelli’s second Premier League goal of the season but, after scoring in the 6-0 win over Lens, the Brazilian appears to be finding his form in front of goal.
Finally Martinelli pic.twitter.com/NfYWR4sj81
โ Amund (@NordicMagpie) December 5, 2023
Martinelli my boy let the floodgate of goals open now #COYG ๐
โ Lake brown (@Lakebrown3) December 5, 2023
Martinelli’s found form now
โ Aaron Bayley๐ฎ๐น๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ง๐ง (@iBayleybeats) December 5, 2023
Arsenal’s lead wouldn’t last long, however, as Gabriel Osho rose from a corner and headed beyond a helpless Raya just four minutes later.
The atmosphere at The Kenny when that Osho goal went in ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
โ DavidOddy (@davidoddy) December 5, 2023
WAKE ME UP, BEFORE YOU GOGO. WHO NEEDS NAISMITH WHEN YOU GOT GABE OSHO ๐งก๐งก
COME ON THE TOWWWNN!! #LUTARS #COYH
โ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ณ๐ด (@Jammiest_Dodger) December 5, 2023
Feels like weโve been bad at defending corners forever now, itโs going to cost us at some point
โ Shane (@quick_afc) December 5, 2023
Since when did we stop been good at defending corner kicks
โ Moh Shef Anadem ๐ฌ๐ญ (@anadem_cazorla) December 5, 2023
The goals kept flying in and it was a third Gabriel, this time Jesus, who was celebrating on the stroke of half-time.
Arsenal’s striker headed home from close range following an excellent cross from Ben White, who put it on a plate for Jesus.
Jesus probably hated scoring that, it’s not his thing
โ Jamo (@50ShadesofJamo) December 5, 2023
That Ben White assist was Mega #fpl
โ WalterWhiteWalker (@WWWFPL) December 5, 2023
And people still sleep on Ben White. Absolutely superb ๐๐ฝ
โ Jay Gomez๐จ๐ด๐ฆ (@JGomezMorales) December 5, 2023
But it was at this point that things turned sour for Arsenal.
Just moments after the restart, Raya came to claim a corner but was nowhere near as the 6’4 Elijah Adebayo nodded into an empty net.
Ughhh Raya
โ รdegoat (@OdeIIX) December 5, 2023
What is Raya up to there
โ Charlie C (@CharlieSwans8) December 5, 2023
Raya got proper dunked on there
โ Ross ๐ฎ๐ช (@Ross_UTD) December 5, 2023
Adebayo you beauty ๐…come on you Luton
โ Bhaadhe. ๐ (@TheBlindsKing) December 5, 2023
Raya had barely climbed back to his feet by the time he was again attracting the unwanted attention.
Ross Barkley’s low effort fizzed directly at the Spaniard but Raya somehow allowed the ball to squirm under his body, gifting Luton a shocking lead.
RAYA IS WORSE THAN ONANA ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ
โ ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ (@UtdAidanx) December 5, 2023
My days David Raya you are actually unbelievable
โ Alex (@Just_Alexx_) December 5, 2023
Sub him off , bring Ramsdale on pathetic display from Raya
โ Vinay (@Vinaydatta9) December 5, 2023
Give me back my Ramsdale please
โ That Village Boy โก๐ก (@certifiedshevhy) December 5, 2023
Raya = Useless
โ ษพษแด ษษฅoW (@CoachCalito) December 5, 2023
Arsenal were soon back level, however, as Kai Havertz tapped home minutes later to set up a nervous final 30.
I see the vision with Havertz. Extremely niche, but it’s a rather luxurious tactical move.
โ B. (@b22_ftbl) December 5, 2023
btw havertz has been one of our best players this half๐ญ
โ Saberi (@AFC_Saberi) December 5, 2023
And just as it looked as though Raya’s errors were going to cost Arsenal, up stepped Declan Rice in the 96th minute to save the day.
I expect Raya to hand Rice his pay cheque as he enters the dressing room, swiftly followed by Odegaard giving him the armband
โ cas (@Highburyways) December 5, 2023
DECLAN RICE!! โค What a signing he’s been!
โ Amina Kara (@aminakara) December 5, 2023
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