Luton 3-4 Arsenal: Rice's last-minute winner sends Gunners five points clear

Declan Rice's last-gasp header snatched victory for Arsenal in a seven-goal thriller at Luton to move them five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

It was the conclusion to a compelling encounter in which the hosts twice fought back and threatened to win when Elijah Adebayo and Ross Barkley scored in an eight-minute period after the break, with Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya culpable for both goals.

However, the Hatters were denied a valuable point when Rice met Martin Odegaard's cross in the seventh minute of stoppage time, 23 seconds after the six official minutes added on had expired.

Arsenal had dominated a largely uneventful opening to a game which sparked into life when Gabriel Martinelli steered Bukayo Saka's pass into the bottom-left corner.

Gabriel Osho's header from Alfie Doughty's corner brought the hosts level shortly after, but when Gabriel Jesus nodded in Ben White's cross from close range the Gunners looked to have regained control.

But in a chaotic period after the interval, the league's best defence suddenly appeared flustered with Adebayo leaping above Raya to head in another Doughty delivery from a corner.

And with Luton in the ascendency, Barkley collected an Andros Townsend pass and beat White before driving a low left-foot shot under Raya.

The momentum swung back towards Mikel Arteta's side when Kai Havertz prodded in from the impressive Jesus' pass to equalise, but Luton looked to have held the visitors at bay until Rice's dramatic intervention.

The result leaves Luton 17th, two points above the relegation zone. Liverpool, who sit five points adrift of Arsenal in the table will play their game in hand at Sheffield United on Wednesday (19:30 GMT).

Match Events

20' GOAL! Luton Town 0-1 Arsenal (Martinelli)

23' Jesus' shot stopped

25' GOAL! Luton Town 1-1 Arsenal (Gabriel Osho)

27' Jesus' shot stopped by goalkeeper

31' Martinelli's shot stopped

39' Saka's shot stopped

45' GOAL! Luton Town 1-2 Arsenal (Jesus)

49' GOAL! Luton Town 2-2 Arsenal (Elijah Adebayo)

57' GOAL! Luton Town 3-2 Arsenal (Barkley)

60' GOAL! Luton Town 3-3 Arsenal (Havertz)

77' Trossard's shot over the bar

96' GOAL! Luton Town 3-4 Arsenal (Rice)

Line-ups

Luton Town XI: Townsend, Thomas Kaminski, Barkley, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Amari'i Bell, Gabriel Osho, Jacob Brown, Elijah Adebayo, Alfie Doughty, Mengi, Issa Kaboré

Subs: Krul, Luke Berry, Jordan Clark, Carlton Morris, Chiedozie Ogbene, Ryan Giles, Chong, Zack Nelson, Joe Johnson

Arsenal XI: David Raya, Martin Ødegaard, Jesus, Rice, Gabriel, Havertz, Ben White, Martinelli, William Saliba, Saka, Jakub Kiwior

Subs: Cedric, M.Elneny, Trossard, Jorginho, Zinchenko, Nelson, Ramsdale, Nketiah, Reuell Walters