During Luton's match against Brentford, Rob Edwards's defense held strong for 45 minutes against Thomas Frank's frustrated forwards. Unfortunately, an injury to captain Tom Lockyer proved to be the turning point, leading to Luton's downfall. Despite Jacob Brown's goal, Shandon Baptiste quickly restored Brentford's two-goal lead.
Edwards acknowledged that Luton was second-best on the day and mentioned "a few early Christmas gifts" given away by his team in the freezing cold. Luton is currently just above the relegation zone in 17th place, thanks to their recent Premier League home win against Crystal Palace.
However, wins for Everton and Burnley over the weekend have narrowed Luton's lead over the relegation rivals to only two points. The team has yet to keep a clean sheet this season and has struggled to score in the first half of 13 out of 14 top-flight fixtures.
While Luton has held their ground at Kenilworth Road against teams like Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, upcoming matches against Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Chelsea pose a formidable challenge before the end of 2024.
Facing Luton in the first of four consecutive challenging home clashes, Arsenal, despite occasional early-game struggles this season, started strong against Wolves. Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard propelled Arsenal to a 2-0 lead within the first 13 minutes. Although they missed opportunities to widen their lead, Arsenal's defense remains strong away from home, conceding only three goals in six road games this campaign.
Luton, however, boasts an impressive 11-game unbeaten streak against Arsenal at Kenilworth Road and secured a victory in the 1988 EFL Cup final, marking their first major honor. The last competitive showdown between the two teams occurred in 1991, a time when none of the current Arsenal starters against Wolves were even born.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Following a knock to the back in the early moments against Brentford, Luton's captain Tom Lockyer had to be substituted during the break on Saturday. He remained down in the penalty area after the half-time whistle.Teden Mengi also suffered a knee issue in that defeat, and Alfie Doughty was entirely absent due to a hip injury. Manager Edwards has indicated that Mengi is now in contention, and Doughty is making efforts to be included in the squad.
Albert Sambi Lokonga won't be able to face his parent club this week, but he is in the final stages of recovering from a thigh injury. On the other hand, Marvelous Nakamba (knee), Mads Andersen (thigh), Reece Burke (thigh), Cauley Woodrow (calf), and Dan Potts (ankle) are all in the recovery phase, accompanying Lokonga on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Arsenal faced a defensive setback during their match against Wolves, as Takehiro Tomiyasu was withdrawn late in the game. Manager Arteta is uncertain whether it's a new issue or just fatigue for the Japan international. Regardless, Ben White is likely to be considered for a return to the defense. Jurrien Timber (knee), Emile Smith Rowe (knee), Fabio Vieira (groin), and Thomas Partey (thigh) are still not ready for their comebacks.
Considering Tuesday's match is Arsenal's third within a week, Kai Havertz and Jorginho may be part of Arteta's considerations. However, Eddie Nketiah's notable miss against Wolves might impact his chances of displacing Gabriel Jesus as the lead striker.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Luton Town possible starting lineup:Kaminski; Osho, Mengi, Bell; Kabore, Mpanzu, Barkley, Giles; Townsend, Brown, Ogbene
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Trossard
EXPERT PREDICTION
Luton 1-3 Arsenal
Arsenal, on the other hand, may also grapple with fatigue, which won't work in their favor. Nevertheless, Arsenal's manager, Arteta, has numerous options for changes in all positions on the field. As a result, he is expected to guide his team to a sixth consecutive victory at Kenilworth Road, potentially adding another clean sheet to their away game accomplishments.
