Arsenal increased their lead at the top of the Premier League table with a nail-biting 4-3 victory over newly-promoted Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday (December 5).
The Gunners came into the game with 33 points from 14 games and a two-point lead over second-placed Liverpool, but have now extended their lead at the top of the table to five points, albeit having played an extra game.
It was one of the best Premier League games in recent memory due to the scoreline. Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring in the 20th minute to put the visitors in front, but the hosts immediately replied from the corner with a header from Gabriel Osho.
Gabriel Jesus made it 2-1 for Arsenal at the stroke of half-time. But the indomitable spirit of Luton saw them not just equalise, but also gain the lead for the first time in the game, thanks to goals from Elijah Adebayo and Ross Barkley.
Both these goals were due to some questionable goalkeeping from David Raya. However, the hosts’ joy was short-lived as the resurgent Kai Havertz made it 3-3 just minutes after they fell behind.
The game seemed to be heading for a draw. At the end of regular time, seven minutes of stoppage time were added. In the final minute of stoppage time, Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard lofted the ball into a crowded box and found Declan Rice, who grabbed the goal and clinched the three points in dramatic fashion at Kenilworth Road.
While the Gooners will be more than happy with the result, they will also be concerned because Arsenal shouldn’t have conceded three goals in the first place.
Raya, signed from Brentford in the summer, has displaced Aaron Ramsdale as the undisputed #1 between the sticks for the North Londoners. However, he was at fault for the second and the third goals conceded by the travelling side.
For the second goal, the Spanish custodian attempted to fist the ball away from Arsenal’s penalty area, but failed to get any connection, which saw Adebayo score a free header.
For the third goal, Raya’s positioning was a bit poor, while his speed of reaction and judgment were also questionable. The goalkeeper let the ball travel through his hands and his lower body as he dived to make the save.
In a video that has dropped online, Ramsdale was seen having a few giggles, followed by a sudden transition where he makes a poker face. Fans on social media believe that the English international was laughing at his teammate’s errors in goal.
When you watch your competition drop a few howlers but realise you’re on camera pic.twitter.com/WlLKKVkwpb
While all is going well for Mikel Arteta & Co, the goalkeepers are absolutely shot in terms of confidence at the moment. Ramsdale had a solid 2022-23 season, playing a crucial role in Arsenal finishing second in the Premier League table.
He is obviously well-loved by his teammates, but it must have been an extremely tough pill to digest when Raya was signed and instantly made the first-choice keeper.
On the other hand, Raya’s move from Brentford hasn’t gone as planned. A shocking statistic reveals that Raya hasn’t managed to keep a single clean sheet when the opposition has more than one shot on target.
There is increasing pressure on Raya to justify his signing and displacing Ramsdale as the first-choice goalie, something he hasn’t been able to do with his performances so far.
