Rice’s last-gasp snatches victory for Arsenal in a seven-goal thriller at Luton

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Declan Rice scored a last-gasp as Arsenal claimed a hard-fought victory in a seven-goal thriller at Luton to move them five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

The match was heading for a draw when Rice struck, breaking the hearts of Luton players and their fans who thought they had snatched a point from the match.

Martin Odegaard played a neat lofted pass into the box for Rice, who beat the defender in the air and planted a header into the right side of the goal from close range.

Arsenal had opened the scoring in the 20th minute after Bukayo Saka played in Gabriel Martinelli, who showed great determination to get to the ball before a couple of defenders and from inside the box slotted the ball into the bottom left corner.

Five minutes later, Gabriel Osho equalised for Luton, jumping highest inside the box to meet a perfectly executed corner kick by Alfie Doughty. His header was precise and ended up inside the left post, leaving the goalkeeper flapping in the wind.

Arsenal went into the lead before the break after Ben White produced a beautiful lofted cross into the box, where Gabriel Jesus rose high to head the ball into the left side of the goal and beyond the goalkeeper.

Luton hit back immediately after the restart. Alfie Doughty took over corner duties and expertly found Elijah Adebayo, who jumped highest and coolly planted a bullet header into the left side of the goal to make it 2-2.

In the 57th minute, Luton took the lead for the first time after Andros Townsend managed to prod the ball to Ross Barkley after a melee inside the box, and he slotted the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 3-2.

Arsenal hit back immediately. Gabriel Jesus squared the ball to Kai Havertz, who beat Thomas Kaminski with a brilliant shot into the bottom left corner.