ARSENAL'S VICTORY OVER LUTON PUTS THEM BACK ATOP THE TABLE.
Leading scorer Saka was sidelined following an injury sustained against Manchester City over the weekend, but Mikel Arteta's drastically altered team managed to defeat their assiduously prepared rivals and reclaim the top spot from Liverpool.
Arsenal defeated struggling Luton 2-0 at Emirates Stadium to overcome Bukayo Saka's absence and reclaim the top spot in the Premier League standings.
Leading scorer Saka was sidelined following an injury sustained against Manchester City over the weekend, but Mikel Arteta's drastically altered team managed to defeat their assiduously prepared rivals and reclaim the top spot from Liverpool.
After Emile Smith Rowe booted Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu off the ball in the 24th minute, captain Martin Odegaard gave the home team the lead, which they doubled just before halftime.
In the 44th minute, Japan's Daiki Hashioka, a defender, unintentionally scored past his goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski while attempting to stop Reiss Nelson after Smith Rowe was given too much room in the penalty area.
Due to a deluge of injuries, Luton was forced to bench 16-year-old Christian Chigozie, a schoolboy defender.
They made sure Arsenal couldn't win the game, and right before halftime, they forced Arsenal's keeper David Raya to stop a free kick from Ross Barkley.
But Arsenal remained mostly unscathed as they advanced to 68 points, one point ahead of Liverpool, who take on bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United at Anfield on Thursday.
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