Key Takeaways from Arsenal's Victory Against Luton Town, Extending Their Lead to Five Points

Arsenal's triumph against Luton Town has propelled them to a five-point lead at the top of the standings, with the Gunners amassing 36 points from 15 games.

(LEFT) Declan Rice celebrates scoring the winning goal for Arsenal; (RIGHT) David Raya expresses disappointment after Ross Barkley scores Luton Town's third goal.(PHOTOS: AP, REUTERS)

In a thrilling Premier League match, Declan Rice secured a dramatic last-minute victory for Arsenal against Luton Town, resulting in a 4-3 win and extending their lead at the top of the standings to five points.

With 36 points from 15 games, the Gunners are currently leading, followed by Liverpool at 31 points and defending champions Manchester City at 30 points. It's worth noting that both City and Liverpool have played one game less than the London-based team.

Now, let's delve into the key takeaways from Arsenal's hard-fought victory over Luton Town, a team that has proven to be a challenging opponent for the Gunners.

David Raya Faces Criticism for Errors

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya is facing scrutiny for his performance against Luton, particularly for allowing two preventable goals.

The summer signing was held responsible for Luton's second and third goals, and these errors occurred at pivotal moments in the game.

In the 49th minute, with Arsenal leading 2-1, David Raya faced criticism for his decision-making during a corner kick. Elijah Adebayo outjumped Raya to head in the equalizer for Luton. Eight minutes later, Raya allowed a close-range shot from Ross Barkley to slip into the net.

Questions have arisen about Raya's goalkeeping since taking over from Aaron Ramsdale on loan from Brentford. When asked about Raya's performance, Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta emphasized the team's collective responsibility for defending situations and expressed satisfaction with the team's overall response.

Despite Raya's proficiency with his feet, he has been prone to errors, such as being caught out of position in a match against Chelsea in October.

Arsenal faced potential embarrassment against the newly-promoted Luton Town but secured a famous win with a late goal from Declan Rice, their club-record signing. Rice's seventh-minute stoppage-time winner secured Arsenal's first victory at Kenilworth Road since 1984. The midfielder, signed for £105 million, showcased his value beyond bolstering the team's midfield, delivering crucial goals.

The victory marked Arsenal's fourth consecutive league win, and Rice's contributions have earned the team nine points from goals scored in the last five minutes of games this season. This positive trend bodes well for Arsenal's title aspirations, aiming to secure their first league title since 2004.

Kai Havertz continues his impressive form by finding the back of the net once again.

Following his move from Chelsea for a sum potentially reaching £65 million, forward Kai Havertz faced criticism for his initial goal-scoring struggles with Arsenal. However, his recent goal against Luton Town suggests that he has now found his scoring form.

Squawka highlighted that Havertz has scored three goals for Arsenal in his last four appearances, matching the number he scored in his previous 32 matches for the North London club.

In addition to the goal, Havertz had an impactful performance, registering five shots, creating four chances, maintaining a passing accuracy of 63.6%, making 53 touches, and winning 10 duels – the second-highest on the pitch.