David Raya was to blame for more than one Luton Town goal. Photo: Getty Images/Paul Childs
For Mikel Arteta it was like that. a victory that highlighted the fighting qualities of his Arsenal team. After the game, he glowed with character, stamina, and determination. And he was right. Against a strict and determined Luton side who pride themselves on their destructive qualities, it took real determination to win in the end.
Although there is an alternative point of view. This Arsenal should never have needed Declan Rice's last-minute winner. If they had been more effective defensively, this would never have come to this. In fact, it could be argued that if their goalkeeper had been as strong as some of his teammates, in the face of Rob Edwards' superbly organized team, Arsenal would have won this win without resorting to drama.
Simply put, it was not David Rye's night: Luton were directly responsible for the two goals, hesitant and uncertain throughout the game, and for much of the game he looked as if he would rather be anywhere but under the lights of Kenilworth Road. This didn't help his choice of equipment. Wearing huge white gloves, he looked less like he had huge hands and more like he was wearing oven mitts.
Rai's nights in Luton were not the most peaceful. Photo: Reuters/Paul Childs
From the sidelines, trying his best to look mysterious as the cameras caught him after each of Raya's mistakes, was Aaron Ramsdale. Rarely can a player's reputation in absentia rise as much as Ramsdale's here. Partly because it was exactly the kind of dialogue he would have liked. Combatant, aggressive, energetic, he would be delighted to meet the Luton team, which presents its guests with the most exciting challenges.
Arteta was right about the challenge presented by Kenilworth Road. Lutons aren't dirty, but they are unforgiving. They charge into battle, snapping and growling. Their goal is to make life uncomfortable for their more famous opponents. And while Rice, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka showed determination not to let such fitness undermine them, Raya seemed to be completely undermined.
Arsenal had many bad moments against Luton before they came back to win. Photo: Reuters/David Klein
Arsenal's analysts must have warned him in advance of what to expect. As a set piece is Luton's weapon of choice. How Alfie Doughty's corner will test the goalkeeper's ability to manage his area. But from the first corner Raya was nowhere near the ball, leaving Gabriel Osho free from the 18-yard box to head home.
Things got worse with another laser-like strike from a corner early in the second half. This time he hit the ball as if he were attacking a fly with a rolled-up newspaper, allowing Elijah Adebayo to make a clear header.
Another Luton corner, another Luton goal! 💪
Elijah Adebayo hits the net after David Raia fails to collect a set ball #PLonPrime #LUTARS pic.twitter.com/k4gsYvm2Bc
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 5 2023
And as for Ross Barkley's goal which gave Luton a temporary lead, Ry won't be happy with the post-match video analysis of that goal. True, Barkley, who was excellent throughout, earned his moment by breaking free from the halfway line through several obstacles before exchanging passes with Andros Townsend. His shot was good, but not that good. In fact, Andre Onana would have been embarrassed to have dived over him the way Raya did.
Fair enough, though, Arteta wasn't there to pick on the man.
“We made mistakes in scoring,” he said when asked about Rai's poor performance. “This is not about accusations, we never did that. We have to defend better as a team.”
But the coach will know that while Rice has improved the team significantly since his arrival, Raya, his other big summer signing, looks far from improved.< /p>
Even his long balls, which served him so well at Brentford, were consistently on target for Luton. Ramsdale, who last year was seen as the epitome of Arsenal's new way this time around, must be wondering what he did wrong.
And Arsenal fans must be worried about it for the better promote himself for the England team next summer, he has no intention of moving in January. Although, to be honest, it may not come to that. With a few more similar performances from the man who replaced him, his time will surely come again.
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