NEVER GIVE UP TILL THE END! | Luton 3-4 Arsenal Reaction| @deludedgooner

Well, we got our gel there, didn't we? In life, they say make your own luck and Arsenal did exactly that. As you can see above my head, Luton 3, Arsenal 4, Arsenal 4, Luton 3 and it's a truly coming back from the death performance. Credit to Luton, first and foremost, you have to be gracious in victory and defeat. My heart kind of breaks for them. Obviously, I'm an Arsenal fan, I don't really care what Luton, that's your business. We got three points, we keep it moving. We made our own luck and we did what we needed to do. But I think Luton, they did not perform like a team that's struggling to stay in the division. If they can play like that for the rest of the season, they've got no worries to stay up. And I think Rob Edwards and everyone connected to Luton, they can feel safe for themselves. I think they were rigid where they needed to do defensively. They exerted themselves physically where they could and were kicking us all over the place. They were brave. They took advantage of us switching off from set pieces. I do really and truly believe they deserved a lot more. I don't care. It's Arsenal and maybe you get one next week. Just not against us. You know, when Declan Rice is in town, you need to be easy. Now, on a frequent occasion this season, we've either conceded late goals or turned results around in the last few minutes. Chelsea comes to mind, Brentford late winner. There's been plenty of other examples, people, the latest being today. I will start with the negatives if I'm completely honest. Now, we didn't defend well enough. Let's be honest. For a team that's statistically one of the best performing defences this season, the players won't be happy with that. The manager won't be and the technical staff. Once, you can forgive it. Twice, it certainly needs to go on three times. The two-set piece is horrible. I'm not here to blame players and whatnot. Everyone takes accountability. I personally felt for the first goal that we conceded. It was poor in the build-up to the corner, personally. I think Martinelli kind of switched off, potentially Jesus as well. I think Raya's made a mess of the second, along with Declan Rice. The third goal, Odegaard and Havertz haven't been strong enough. Benjamin White's at no man's land. The one luxury I would give Raya, even though I think he's had a hand in two of the goals, is that the goalie is the last line of defence. So, you've seen me ask questions of the midfield third and defensive third before Raya, but he's hardly covered himself in any blade of glory. Shout-out to Benjamin White for the assist for Martinelli's goal. Shout-out to Saka as well for Gabriel Jesus' goal. Saka set up Martinelli. Shout-out to Benjamin White for Raya. So, it went somewhere like that. Either way, the first two goals, Jesus had a hand in. He's taken a throw-in early when Luton have let themselves down. Their keepers pull it out for a throw-in. Obviously, he's got the second. I wasn't impressed with how we were defensively. Again, these games happen in football. It was one of those games. It's Amazon Prime. It's the festive period. It's two contrasting styles. Statistically, Arsenal never travel well to Luton. First time we beat them in my lifetime and for a lot of Arsenal fans. So, it was kind of written on the script, really. But we need to defend a lot better. When the emotion and the euphoria of coming from, well, being pegged back in the game because we scored, then they obviously equalised. So, obviously, we've reacted to setbacks. I'm happy with it. I'm happy with the performances, in my opinion. I think Kai Havertz, as the game went on, had a great game. I think Odegaard put on a clinic in the second half. Declan Rice is always perfect and lovely to see him pop up. With a goal, I think Jesus was good. I think Saka, even when you can see a man's knackered, he's kind of done, still standing up to be counted. I think the whole defence and the team could have done better defensively. I think Jesus had a great game, if I'm honest. I think Kyrgios didn't take his opportunity today. I think Trossart was a bit ineffective. I'm happy to see us get the goals. It's as simple as that. Happy to see us get on the score sheet. And we even had chances way before that dramatic winner to, obviously, grab a goal. So, yeah, I like the fact that we didn't give up, that we reacted to setbacks, that we found four goals, that we've got the three points, which is the main thing. A bit of insurance policy going into Aston Villa at the weekend against a very informed side. But when the emotion dies down, we have to defend a lot better. We need to follow runs a lot better. We need to be switched on defensively a lot better. We've got out of jail, really, and I appreciate the never say never attitude. Even when some fans, myself included, think it's really over, we're not going to get three points. But defence wins titles and you can't play like that. When the emotion settles, we did not defend well enough. We are respectfully to Luton, we've dropped our level. I don't think we were scared when they asserted themselves physically, but it just felt like something wasn't quite clicking in that regard. In hindsight, I know a lot of us probably wanted Zinchenko dropped to the bench, but I think in hindsight, based on the first half, potentially Zinchenko probably could have started that game and gave us a lot more under ball. And again, big him up for his cameo. Shout out to all the team, really. Big up Kai Havertz for scoring as well. Can't remember who set you up. It might have even been Martin Odegaard or he definitely set up Declan Rice. Who cares, really? It got done. Our attackers have saved us today. Collectively, as a team, we haven't defended well, if I'm honest, really. I did feel in the first 15, 20 minutes, just prior to us scoring, we needed to move the ball a bit quicker and we needed to compete a bit more in the first and second duels, just to a higher standard. I don't think David Ryer has covered himself in any blade of glory. We all know every week that goes past, is it Ramsdale, is it Ryer, et cetera, et cetera, and that won't go away. I was, you know, if there was one beyond the obvious, if there was something I'm really disappointed by, I would say the first five to 10 minutes in that second half because you could see that Luton kind of come out with, you know, with the bit between their teeth and it was kind of well-deserved when Barkley scored. I think Barkley had a good game. I actually think Townsend had a great game as well. In fact, all of Luton, it did feel like their defence could be got at and there was a couple of nervy moments and ultimately we scored four goals and whatnot. But yeah, man, we dealt with setbacks. We got ourselves back in the game. But make no mistake, you know, collectively, we weren't convincing in the defensive end of the pitch. There's a lot of mistakes we need to eradicate once the emotion of this game has died down. I think Ryer needs to improve defensively. I think, you know, even Benjamin White for a couple of defensive actions. But the main thing is we reacted. We drew three points back from the dead. We've seen on occasion this season, I don't know if it's the mentality of Premier League winners, but there's a mentality and a never-say-die attitude. And when things are going wrong, previous years at Arsenal, people, you know, succumb to defeat, start looking at other players to take accountability and just ultimately give up. That is something you can't, whether we win, lose or draw games, that's something you can't say this Arsenal team does. And I love the fact of rather than looking at other people to take responsibility, people stood up to Mikhail today. Jesus had a very good game, you know, stood up to Mikhail. Zinchenko, a positive cameo. Declan Rice, when the going was getting, in fact, my whole midfield, Kai Havertz, Odegaard, Declan Rice, when the going was getting tough, you stood up. Jesus did well. You know, a couple of players did well, really. I mean, players I didn't say as well. And, you know, all can be not necessarily forgiven, but we can get away with a poor defensive performance and maybe shaky defensive performance or individual performances and have a laugh about it. But we enjoy tonight. Come tomorrow, we need to improve a tenfold because Aston Villa are not going for that. I think we've got Brighton at home after Aston Villa in the Premier League. The games are getting thicker. The games are only getting harder. We've got West Ham this month. We've got Liverpool this month. We've got Brighton this month. We've got enough difficult games, really and truly, and nothing's been won or decided. So it's lovely that we keep ticking over. You hope Aston Villa can put in a performance against City if they have got them and then take the afternoon off when we play them in the evening on Saturday. So, yeah, man, you know, and we all know the rival fans or our friends that support rival clubs. They're all ready to banter us about drawing and all of those sort of things, but we clawed it back from the death, man. You lot smash the like button, like, comment, subscribe. Let me know your thoughts on everything. And, yeah, that's all I've got to say, people, but I'm happy that in the seven-goal thriller, if my maths is right, we've come out on top, but there'll be times we don't get away with it like that. So we need to improve our tempo. I don't, and the thing I like as well, I don't think anyone will be happy with how we defended. I think the boys on the coach will be happy that all that matters is points on the board, but we can defend a lot better. We can play a lot better. We need to be a bit more boring. That was entertaining for the neutrals. It needs to be less entertaining for Arsenal. And, you know, obviously, realistically, we've conceded three goals. I think the Luton town gaffer will be happy, well, beyond the obvious, he'll be disappointed, but he'll be happy about certain elements. I think there'll be certain elements that Mikel Arteta, in a weird way, will be happy about in this game. But when you break it down, a team that wants to win a league title, yeah, you can put it down to an off day. Statistically, we have one of the best defences, but, you know, you've shut up Harland and stuff like that, and you conceded three at Luton. Forgive me if I'm wrong. Now, I'm sure the Luton town gaffer won't be happy. I think he'll be courageous and proud of his side. But at the end of the day, in the Premier League, any time you've conceded three goals in a game, or four goals, it's not good enough. And on another day, conceding three goals means you probably lose the game, really. So there's always something we've done well. There's always something we could do better. But on that note, I've got nothing more to add. So you lot, hit the like button, comment, subscribe, all of that good stuff. It's been a crazy game. I'm off to shower, eat and go to bed, man. I'll see you tomorrow.