The results of their last 10 meetings

Arsenal head into Wednesday’s clash with Luton Town knowing they can reclaim top spot in the Premier League before Liverpool play a day later.

Sunday’s goalless draw with Manchester City saw the Gunners drop into second place as the three title rivals jostle to finish on top of the pile after their remaining nine games.

Luton, meanwhile, have shown a dogged and determined spirit throughout their first top-flight campaign since 1991/92. However, with just one win in their last ten matches, the Hatters have slipped back into the relegation zone and face a massive task to get anything from their trip to the Emirates Stadium.

Here’s how the ten most recent encounters between the two sides have played out.

The only meeting between these sides in the 21st century so far, Arsenal left it late to steal all three points after a valiant effort from newly-promoted Luton Town.

The Gunners took a 2-1 half-time lead after goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Osho, and Gabriel Jesus, but the Hatters were ahead just before the hour-mark through Elijah Adebayo and Ross Barkley. However, Kai Havertz equalized in the 60th minute and Declan Rice eventually headed in to earn Arsenal a win on their first trip to Kenilworth Road in 32 years.

The 1991/92 season was Luton’s last in the top flight until 2023/24, finishing in the bottom three alongside Notts County and West Ham. However, that didn’t stop them claiming a large scalp when Arsenal visited Kenilworth Road on Boxing Day in 1991.

Hatters legend Mick Harford scored the only goal of the game in the 79th minute to down a Gunners side containing the likes of David Seaman, Tony Adams, David Rocastle, Alan Smith, and Ian Wright.

Arsenal had shown more of their quality in their first meeting of the 1991/92 season back in August as they sought to defend the First Division title they won a few months prior.

Paul Merson and striker Smith grabbed the goals at the end of the first and second halves respectively, but it was an ultimately disappointing season for the north London giants who slipped to fourth in the table and suffered early exits in both the European Cup and FA Cup.

Smith was on the scoresheet against Luton in December 1990, heading in Paul Davis’ corner in the 44th minute. He would finish the 1990/91 First Division campaign as the top scorer with 22 goals, but this one wasn’t enough to earn victory.

Iain Dowie hit the bar as the Hatters grew into the contest before the future Crystal Palace manager was felled in the box by Gunners great Adams, who was sent off. John Dreyer converted the penalty but the hosts couldn’t force a winner.

George Graham’s Arsenal won the first meeting of the 1990/91 season, though not without spending much of the first half trailing after Lars Elstrup’s 12th-minute strike.

Merson got the Gunners back on level terms roughly ten minutes before half-time, and Michael Thomas later arrived from midfield to net the winner.

Result

Date

Competition

Luton Town 3-4 Arsenal

5 December 2023

Premier League

Luton Town 1-0 Arsenal

26 December 1991

First Division

Arsenal 2-0 Luton Town

27 August 1991

First Division

Luton Town 1-1 Arsenal

8 December 1990

First Division

Arsenal 2-1 Luton Town

29 August 1990

First Division

Luton Town 2-0 Arsenal

21 April 1990

First Division

Arsenal 3-2 Luton Town

16 December 1989

First Division

Arsenal 2-0 Luton Town

25 February 1989

First Division

Luton Town 1-1 Arsenal

25 October 1988

First Division

Luton Town 3-2 Arsenal

24 April 1988

Source link

Tags: meetingsresults