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ARSENAL are back top of the Premier League thanks to a 2-0 win over Luton tonight. Martin Odegaard put the Gunners 1-0 up with a fine finish before an own goal doubles Arteta’s side’s lead just before half-time.
Start time: 7.30pm BST
Stream/TV: TNT Sports 1
Arsenal XI: To follow
Luton XI: To follow
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSquad fitness key to success
With Arsenal battling on two fronts for trophies, keeping his big players fit will be key for Mikel Arteta.
He was without Bukayo Saka today and will be hoping the young winger is fit for the weekend.
Resting the likes of Rice and Martinelli today should ensure that he has a strong side for the challenge of Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
Copy linkCopiedGames come thick and fast for Gunners
As we head to the business end of the season, the games keep coming for Arsenal.
A tricky fixture on the south coast against Brighton comes before a very difficult Champions League quarter-final.
Mikel Arteta will be hoping that a former Tottenham player does not come back to haunt them.

Copy linkCopiedAll eyes turn to Anfield
It may only be 24 hours that Arsenal remain at the top of the table with Jurgen Klopp’s side taking on Sheff Utd tomorrow.
In this three-horse race, all sides can do is win their games and hope that their rivals drop points.
It will be a tough ask for Chris Wilder’s side tomorrow, who are rooted to the foot of the table.
Copy linkCopiedSkipper leads the way for Arsenal
If The Gunners are going to be winning silverware this season, Martin Odegaard will be key to their success.
His ability to unlock defences is key to their rich scoring form.
Adding to that with goals, the Norwegian is integral to Mikel Arteta’s side.

Copy linkCopiedFT: Arsenal 2-0 Luton Town
Arsenal go back to the top of the table with Liverpool playing tomorrow against Sheff Utd.
It was a routine win for The Gunners in North London.
Luton Town struggled to make an impression on the game today.

Copy linkCopiedFT: Arsenal 2-0 Luton Town
It is all over at The Emirates.
Job done from an Arsenal perspective.
For Luton, they still have plenty to do to remain a Premier League team next season.
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
90+2. The Arsenal fans ar starting to filter out now, plenty of empty seats all around the ground.
Maybe there is something good on the television they want to get back for.
It looks there is an academy game being played now seeing more seats than fans.
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
90. As we edge closer to the final whistle, Luton try their best to try and get a goal to put the cat amongst the pigeons.
Berry makes a run to the near post but his header goes high and wide.
We are going to have four additional minutes.
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
88. Barkley plays the ball to Clark, who holds it up well before finding the run of the overlapping Doughty.
Again he lifts a high cross into the box but as it is poorly cleared, Hashioka drills a shot with some venom, but it is blocked by Gabriel.
Arsenal break down the other end of the pitch and Nketiah gets a shot away but Kaminski gets down well to turn it around the post.
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
86. Smith Rowe makes way for Jorginho.
It has been a decent performance by the midfielder today.
At this stage of the season, the three points is always far more important than the performance.
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
84. We are at that point of the game now where fantasy football fans will be hoping Arsenal can keep a clean sheet.
Kaminski has had very little to do in the Luton goal in this half.
That said, all the damage was done in the first half for The Gunners.
Credit: AP
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
82. Odegaard lays the ball off to White who immediately spots the run of Nketiah into the box.
The Arsenal striker cannot get the ball under his spell as it goes out harmlessly for a goal kick.
Mikel Arteta’s side are starting to dominate the ball more now.
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
80. Nketiah holds the ball up in the left channel and spots the movement of Trossard.
He lines up to shoot but there is no way through, so he lays it off to Tomiyasu.
The defender checks onto his right foot and tries to bend one in the far corner but it goes narrowly wide with Kaminski scrambling.
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
78. A goal from the visitors now would give us an interesting end to this game.
Arsenal fans will be hoping that isn’t the case but, for the neutral, it would make for more of a spectacle.
Barkley is seeing more of the ball for the visitors.
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
76. You cannot see anything but an Arsenal win here.
Luton have huffed and puffed but failed to create anything of note.
The Hatters have dominated possession in the last ten minutes.
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
74. More changes for The Gunners as Zinchenko and Nelson are replaced by Tomiyasu and Martinelli.
This is the problem when Zinchenko starts for Arsenal, he leaves them very open at the back.
Playing the inverted full back is all well and good but he does struggle to get back.
Credit: AFP
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
72. You have to go back to November for the last time Luton failed to score in the Premier League.
They have forced another corner as they look to strike back.
Chance for them to send some defenders up for the set piece.
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
70. Chong plays a great ball down the flank to Doughty.
He gets to the byline and looks to lift a cross into the back post but Zinchenko is there to chest back to his keeper.
Wrong option from the Luton player as Morris made a run to the near post.
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
68. The Arsenal manager is evidently looking to stop this flow of attacks from the visitors.
Rice will offer more protection in front of the back four, or three, depending where Zinchenko has drifted off to.
It is a very quiet Emirates Stadium currently, reflecting the action we are seeing on the pitch really.
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
66. Havertz is booked for diving and rightly so.
The German does have that in his locker, as we have seen on occasions.
Mikel Arteta makes a change as Havertz and Partey are replaced by Nketiah and Rice.
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
64. The Hatters are starting to get more balls into the box now.
Morris is their only aerial threat but Saliba and Gabriel are coping with all they have to throw at them currently.
Chong has look lively since coming on as a substitute.
Credit: EPA
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
62. Doughty clips a cross into the back post but it is headed clear by Gabriel.
Luton seem to be growing in confidence a little more now.
They are forcing Arsenal into defensive positions more often.
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
60. Arsenal give the ball away and Clark tries to find Morris in the box.
The ball is half-cleared but the referee pulls it back for a free kick as Odegaard caught the midfielder after the ball had gone.
Another chance for the visitors to ask some questions of David Raya.
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
58. Smith Rowe plays a clever ball through to Havertz.
The ball is worked to Odegaard on the edge of the box and he tries a double-dragback to beat the defenders.
It gets stuck under his feet a little and he is easily dispossessed.
Copy linkCopiedArsenal 2-0 Luton Town
56. The game has dipped a bit now.
Arsenal are quite content with the scoreline it seems.
Morris has seen none of the ball tonight for the visitors.
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MANCHESTER CITY host Aston Villa in a thrilling Premier League midweek clash – and three points are crucial for both sides.Pep’s title-chasing side will want to keep the pressure on league leaders Liverpool after dropping two points at home against Arsenal.Whereas Unai Emery’s need the points if they want to stay ahead of top-four rivals Tottenham.
Kick-off time: 8:15pm BST
Live stream: discovery+
TV channel: TNT Sports 1
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BRENTFORD host European chasing Brighton in a midweek Premier League clash.Kristoffer Ajer’s 99th-minute strike rescued a point for the Bees in their recent thrilling encounter against Manchester United.While Liverpool snatched a win from the Seagulls who were leading from the 2nd minute.
Kick-off time: 7:30pm BST
Live stream: discovery+
TV channel: TNT Sports 3
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ANGE POSTECOGLOU has insisted he does not care about finishing in the top four – and now his Tottenham side are playing like it.It is advantage Aston Villa in that race once again after Spurs failed to punish a bruised and under pressure West Ham side – even though they took the lead after just five minutes.West Ham held Tottenham to a 1-1 draw at the London StadiumCredit: GettyBrennan Johnson tapped home an opening goal early onCredit: ReutersKurt Zouma then scored an unorthodox equaliser off his backCredit: APBrennan Johnson got the visitors off to the perfect start, but it was another night where too many star men fell flat.James Maddison spent more time arguing while captain Son Heung-min was well shackled by the Hammers – who earned a point thanks to Kurt Zouma’s first half leveller.David Moyes elected to keep Kalvin Phillips out of the firing line after his latest horror show in Saturday’s defeat to Newcastle – offering the midfielder a chance to replicate his Manchester City form by spending 90 minutes on the bench.After their sickening collapse on Tyneside at the weekend, West Ham set out to make a fast start and would have been ahead after four minutes had top scorer Bowen not fluffed his lines.The England winger, usually so reliable in front of goal, somehow shinned a Mohammed Kudus cross wide from just yards out.Just over a minute later, Johnson was showing him what to do from that spot.Moyes has been scratching his head over West Ham’s poor defending in recent weeks and Tottenham’s opener will have only added to his frustration.Destiny Udogie and Rodrigo Bentancur were allowed to push forward from the halfway line as those in claret and blue backtracked furiously.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERHere’s how the game played out on paperBentancur fed Timo Werner, who skipped past Vladimir Coufal and cut back for Johnson to tap in – just had Bowen should have.Moyes will have feared Stratford turning sour with an early Spurs goal, but the London Stadium stuck with their side, even as the visitors took a tighter grip of the game.Young stars set to shine at Euro 2024Pedro Porro flashed one effort wide of the far post before Son fired at Lukasz Fabianski.But neither were too troublesome and the home support were rewarded for their faith shortly after.Bowen may have missed a well-worked sitter, but West Ham fans do not care how goals come about in these games – and they don’t come much more unorthodox than in off your back.It was Bowen’s corner which set up the leveller, a dipping in-swinger which the unmarked Zouma managed to duck out of the way of when trying to head home, though fortunately diverted it in off his spine.The goal gave West Ham confidence and sparked a frantic London derby.Bowen’s pace was causing problems for the returning Micky van de Ven at one end while Tottenham’s more intricate football was stretching the Hammers back line.After James Ward-Prowse’s free-kick was stopped by Vicario, Bowen won and delivered two more dangerous corners while Lucas Paqueta showed the tough side on top of his tricks by trying to rough up Maddison, who quickly fought back with a rough challenge of his own.The needle between those two, with Maddison’s Three Lions teammate Bowen also joining in, only added to the entertainment.West Ham kept up the high-octane football after the break, with three big chances in the space of three minutes.Michail Antonio was denied by Vicario, who then saved a Konstantinos Mavropanos header on the line. The Spurs keeper would have been helpless had Paqueta managed to get his effort, after a wonderful turn on the edge of the box, on target.After West Ham’s missed chances, Spurs looked to punch back but Coufal threw himself in front of a Maddison effort and Yves Bissouma fired wide.Ange Postecoglou could not mastermind a way ahead against West HamCredit: ReutersThat was despite David Moyes not making a single subCredit: ReutersAntonio has made such a difference to West Ham’s forward line since returning from injury – but he is never a player you would put your house on to finish off a simple chance.After Paqueta had once again left Maddison in a heap on the edge of the West Ham box, Ward-Prowse walloped one forward for his No9 to chase. Antonio did the difficult part so well, collecting the ball and bulldozing through Van de Ven, only to fire straight at Vicario with no other defenders near him.Should West Ham miss out on Europe this season their latest January failure to add a clinical striker – having been so desperate to bring in a forward – will look plain foolish.That lack of depth meant West Ham were largely playing for a draw by the end, though the end-to-end nature continued as Udogie fired at Fabianski and Bowen had a very late half-chance to win it – crashing into the post in the process.West Ham remain seventh and in with a shot of a fourth straight year in Europe, despite some of the issues Moyes has battled all season.See how the game unfolded with SunSport’s live blog below.
Kick-off time: 8:15pm BST
Live stream: discovery+
TV channel: TNT Sports 1
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TIME is running out for Vincent Kompany’s Burnley despite their recent upturn in fortunes.Keeper Aro Muric produced an outstanding second half save to extend the Clarets unbeaten run to four matches.Burnley are running out of time to save themselves from relegationCredit: PAThe Clarets lost their lead after Rayan Ait-Nouri’s strike to end the game in a 1-1 drawCredit: PAYet the likelihood is it will be too little too late for the Lancashire side with just seven matches remaining – barring a late miracle.  These are the sort of games they simply have to win if they are to produce one of the Prem’s greatest escapes.Jacob Bruun Larsen set them up to do that with a well-taken first half goal – but once again they could not hold on to their lead.Rayan Ait Nouri’s header on the stroke of half-time secured a point for the visitors – and left Burnley kicking themselves yet again.Turf Moor was once thought of as a fortress but Burnley have won just two of their last 17 top flight games here – keeping only one clean sheet.Yet five points from their last three Prem matches had given the Clarets a flicker of hope after looking doomed to the Championship in recent weeks.The weekend draw at Chelsea – when they twice battled back with 10 men to earn a point – shows they have not thrown in the towel yet.What’s more, their run-in could be worse – with Saturday’s trip to Everton surely pivotal if they are to have any chance at all of surviving.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKEREven so, it will still take a monumental effort and only a run of wins will save them now as they lie six points from safety. Mid-table Wolves were in no mood to do them any favours – creating some decent early chances.Every Premier League stadium ranked by the number of pubs nearby with one boasting over 130 local boozersRayan Ait Nouri made space for himself in the box but Vitinho got back to make a last ditch clearance.Matt Doherty should have done better as he curled an effort wide but then nodded one back for Joao Gomes who planted his header off target.Burnley were being pegged back after a bright opening but then took the lead with a lightning break.Quick thinking from keeper Muric sent Dara O’Shea away down the wing and his cross was volleyed in emphatically by an unmarked Jacob Bruun Larsen.It was just what Burnley needed as Wolves were in danger of losing back to back games for the first time since December.  Yet Gary O’Neil’s men got themselves level just before the break.Ait Nouri had been causing the Clarets problems all night and his darting run won a free-kick in a dangerous position.Pablo Sarabia swung it over and Ait Nouri himself ghosted in to plant a header beyond Muric into the corner.A VAR check showed the Algerian had timed his run perfectly and the visitors had the leveller with their first effort on target of the night.Both teams had opportunities within minutes of the re-start.Ait Nouri got on the end of a ball over the top and held off Maxime Esteve but Muric stood up brilliantly to save.Vincent Kompany made a big call to axe record £19 million signing in favour of the Kosovan – but right now it looks like the right one.Then Vitinho pulled one back for Bruun Larsen but the Dane’s low shot was stopped by the feet of Jose Sa.The Wolves keeper had to be there again to keep out a long range effort from Wilson Odobert as both sides went in search of a winner.At the other end, Mario Lemina’s header was just off target after he got on the end of a super cross from Ait Nouri.Sub Jay Rodriguez thought he had bundled in a late winner for the Clarets – but his celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s flag.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER More

BOURNEMOUTH substitute Justin Kluivert heaped more misery on Crystal Palace in front of the club’s Golden Knight.American owner Bill Foley was in town to congratulate Andoni Iraola’s Cherries for saving their Premier League skins in record-breaking time.Bournemouth defeated Crystal Palace at the Vitality StadiumCredit: PAJustin Kluivert scored the winner against Crystal PalaceCredit: GettyCrystal Palace are now eight points away from the relegation zoneCredit: RexBournemouth are now 11th in the Premier League tableCredit: ReutersAnd Foley, owner of the reigning National Hockey League champs Vegas Golden Knights, enjoyed a pucker night as well.Dutchman Kluivert netted the winner 11 minutes from time after being set-up by another sub Antoine Semenyo.But Palace’s miserable time on the road continues as they remain nervously looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone.The Londoners have not won away in the league for 10 matches now and are just eight points above third bottom Luton.Iraola made five changes to the Cherries team gifted victory by Everton’s Seamus Coleman on Saturday with that comical stoppage-time own-goal.That result all but rubber-stamped Bournemouth’s place at the top table next season after taking 10 games to claim their first league win under the Spanish head coach.But the Londoners are still looking over their shoulders thanks to a dismal record on the road this campaign having failed to win any of their 10 away games.Palace boss Oliver Glasner surprised the hosts by playing former Cherries midfield strong man Jefferson Lerma in defence.And Lewis Cook’s corner put the visiting defence under severe pressure forcing Jean-Philippe Mateta to head Dango Ouattara’s 20th minute header off the line.Mateta, looking to score for the third match in a row, was soon back in action at the other end turning smartly before forcing a save out of Cherries goalkeeper Neto.Phillip Billing then made a strong run at the Palace backline before shooting wide after taking a return pass from Ouattara.But Palace squandered a superb opportunity to go ahead on 31 minutes when Adam Smith lost possession to Eberechi Eze.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKEREze in a two-against-one situation failed to pass to the unmarked Mateta and allowed Illia Zabarnyi to rob him of the ball.Billing did his best to liven up proceedings in the swirling rain with a 30-yard free-kick which Palace stopper Dean Henderson did well to keep out.And the England star had to be at his very acrobatic best on 37 minutes when he somehow tipped Solanke’s bullet header from Smith’s cross over the bar.The home side then missed another good chance when defender Lloyd Kelly headed Billing’s corner wide of the back post.Eze thought he had put Palace ahead in first-half stoppage-time but his effort was ruled out by VAR who spotted Mateta was six inches offside in the build-up.Bournemouth sub Milos Kerkez came close to scoring with his first kick just after the hour but his long-range effort was turned away by Henderson to Solanke who fired wide.But the home team’s Knight in shining armour was all smiles when Semenyo shrugged aside Palace sub David Ozoh’s challenge and laid the ball on for Kluivert to notch the winner. More

NOTTINGHAM FOREST fans unveiled a banner before the game which read: ‘Shut everything out and play your game’.And Forest’s players did exactly that – with a display that suggests they have what it takes to put their four-point PSR penalty to one side and stay up regardless.Morgan Gibbs-White celebrated making it 3-0 to Forest, with the Cottagers only able to notch one in reply after the breakCredit: GettyGibbs-White slotted home to complete an amazing first periodCredit: ReutersGoals from Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White put them 3-0 up by half-time.And the final margin could have been much greater as rampant Forest secured a first in seven games – hitting the woodwork twice.Nuno Espirito Santo’s side dominated to such an extent that his countryman Marco Silva made a TRIPLE first half substitution to try and stem the wave of Forest attacks.The Fulham boss sent on Willian, Tom Cairney and Adama Traore after only 33 minutes as Silva’s game plan went out of the window.It was the second quickest time a Premier League manager had made three first half changes – that was Stoke City’s then-boss Tony hauled off a trio at Sunderland in 2009.Silva’s move saw Fulham rally after the break – but the damage had been done by then.It means that since being dumped into the bottom three last month, Nuno’s side have collected four points from six.The Forest boss said he was confident his players would not be relegated after the points were taken off them.But Nuno will be the first to make it clear that there is still work to do – as they are still just three points above the danger zone.Rejuvenated Forest took the lead after nine minutes when a superb pinpoint pass from Gibbs-White on the halfway line found Hudson-Odoi out left.Every Premier League stadium ranked by the number of pubs nearby with one boasting over 130 local boozersHe cut inside and picked his spot before firing a shot into the far corner for his fifth goal of season.The same combination should have made it two just six minutes later.Gibbs-White set Hudson-Odoi free, but his first touch let him down and Fulham keeper Bernd Leno recovered.But it was only a temporary respite for Silva’s side.Wood added the second with his third goal in successive games.His back-header against Crystal Palace on Saturday was a quirky piece of quick-thinking – and this was off the same blueprint.Wood collected a Murillo ball, before turning and scoring from 25 yards with a shot that completely wrong-footed a stranded Leno.Forest were attacking at will and Gibbs-White set up Anthony Elanga whose shot struck the far post.Silva had seen enough and sent on three subs.Last season, Fulham scored three times in six minutes to secure a City Ground victory.But there was no real hint of a comeback when Gibbs-White’s one-two with Danilo ended with the England Under-21 forward sliding home number three in first half stoppage time.Callum Hudson-Odoi planted this opener for ForestCredit: ReutersFulham could not have played any worse – and presumably, Silva made his feelings known during the break.But they pulled one back four minutes into the second half when Tosin Adarabioyo headed home from an Andreas Pereira corner.Forest wide man Neco Williams went down in the area under a challenge from Antonee Robinson, but ref Michael Oliver rejected the penalty claims.Matt Turner – Forest’s sub keeper – was then booked in the technical area for what looked like dissent.The American reacted with surprise and urged the raucous home crowd to make even more noise in the closing stages.Forest might have had a fourth goal after 65 minutes when Williams hammered a shot against the bar.But Fulham knew a second goal would set up a nervy finish for Nuno’s men and keeper Matz Sels turned an Adarabioyo around the post.Forest finished strongly though and Danilo fired an angled shot narrowly over the bar – before sub Divock Origi drove wide of the far post in stoppage time.Even then, Fulham made one last-gasp attempt at a grandstand finish as Traore hit the post.Tosin Adarabioyo nodded home soon after the break but in vainCredit: Getty More