Rice rescues Arsenal after goalkeeper’s errors
Declan Rice scored in the seventh minute of stoppage time to earn Premier League leaders Arsenal a wild 4-3 win over Luton and spare the blushes of team-mate David Raya yesterday.
Raya made errors that led to two goals for Luton, leaving Arsenal on the cusp of dropping two points at Kenilworth Road.
However, with the clock having run past the six allotted minutes of stoppage time, Rice got on the end of Martin Odegaard’s cross and glanced a header into the bottom corner for a victory that lifted Arsenal five points clear at the top.
Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus scored either side of Gabriel Osho’s equaliser for Luton as Arsenal led 2-1 at half-time, with Mikel Arteta’s team going in search of a fourth straight victory in the Premier League and sixth in a row in all competitions.
Then came Raya’s mistakes.
First, the goalkeeper was beaten in the air at a corner by Elijah Adebayo, who powered in a header for an equaliser in the 49th minute.
Eight minutes later, Raya allowed a shot by Ross Barkley to go under his body as he dived to his left, giving Luton – a promoted team likely to be battling relegation this season – an unexpected 3-2 advantage.
Kai Havertz equalised on the hour and Rice completed the comeback after relentless late pressure from Arsenal.
Raya’s blunders furthered concerns he might not be the long-term answer as Arsenal’s goalkeeper after he took the place of Aaron Ramsdale this season following his arrival from Brentford.
Meanwhile, South Korea striker Hwang Hee-chan extended his career-best scoring streak in the Premier League with the winning goal for Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 1-0 victory over Burnley.
Hwang moved on to eight goals for the campaign, with only compatriot Son Heung-min (nine), Mohamed Salah (10) and Erling Haaland (14) having scored more. He has as many goals in 15 league games this season as he scored in his first two Premier League campaigns combined.
His latest goal was an opportunistic strike in the 42nd minute after Burnley midfielder Sander Berge lost possession with a heavy touch on the edge of his own area as the visitors tried to play out from the back.
Pablo Sarabia regained the ball, passed inside to Matheus Cunha and the striker teed up Hwang, who slotted a low finish past goalkeeper James Trafford.
Wolves climbed to 12th place in the standings.