Tuchel's dream player causes wild ecstasy at Arsenal

Arsenal FC have extended their lead in the Premier League for the time being thanks to a last-minute goal. DFB superjoker Kai Havertz contributed an important goal. There is no stopping coach Mikel Arteta after the last-minute win. He flips out and must now face the consequences.

Arsenal FC have extended their lead at the top of the English Premier League table with a last-minute victory. The Gunners won 4:3 (2:1) at cheeky newcomers Luton Town after a wild game on Tuesday evening, thanks in part to a goal from international Kai Havertz. Declan Rice (90.+7) scored the winning goal late on with his head.

Prior to that, Arsenal had been involved in an open exchange of blows with the league newcomers. Gabriel Martinelli (20th) and Gabriel Jesus (45th) put the visitors in front twice at Kenilworth Road. Gabriel Osho (25) and Elijah Adebayo (49) countered on both occasions, however, before Ross Barkley (57) even gave Luton the lead at one stage. Havertz (60) equalized with his second league goal of the season.

Rice was one of Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel's preferred candidates in the summer. In the end, however, the midfielder decided against a move to the Bundesliga and instead moved within London from West Ham to Arsenal. On Tuesday, the 24-year-old international spared England team manager Mikel Arteta a major discussion about goalkeeper David Raya.

Arteta celebrates his team ...

The 28-year-old Spaniard joined the Gunners from Brentford before the start of the season. After the first few matchdays, he had taken over the regular goalkeeping position from 25-year-old Aaron Ramsdale. Ramsdale was recently rumored to be thinking of leaving the club.

Arteta's decision to choose his compatriot was not universally well received and would certainly have been questioned again after Raya's two blunders before the goals at 2:2 and 2:3. But the goals from Julian Nagelsmann's superjoker Havertz and Rice put the focus back on the wild game.

"That's the incredible thing about soccer. All these emotions that you go through together with the people," said Arteta after the win. "It was a special evening. Kudos to Luton and this atmosphere here. It was great how they were coached, how they made it difficult for us. But we found the way to win. The stamina, the character, the quality and of course my team's will to win - it was all great."

... and is suspended

The win, and in particular the last goal, thrilled Arteta in a way that will give him a break early in the season. After the goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time, he was unstoppable and stormed off. Referee Samuel Barrott had no choice in his first season in the Premier League: he cautioned Arteta, who will be allowed to rest for the next game at Aston Villa after already receiving his third yellow card of the season. "I really couldn't just sit there," explained Arteta. "It was pure emotion. If it's yellow, it's yellow."

Arsenal moved five points clear of the chasing pack with their fourth league win in a row. Liverpool FC with team manager Jürgen Klopp can close the gap again with a win at Sheffield United on Wednesday (8.30pm). Manchester City could also close the gap to three points with a win at Aston Villa (9.15pm).