Arsenal go five clear as Rice seals seven-goal thriller at Luton

LUTON, England: Declan Rice's header deep in stoppage time sealed an enthralling 4-3 victory for Arsenal at lowly Luton Town to send them five points clear at the top of the Premier League on Tuesday (Dec 5).

Arsenal had been knocked out of their stride by an energetic and direct Luton side and it looked as though they were about to extend their winless run at Kenilworth Road to 11 games.

But with six minutes of stoppage time played Rice found space to dispatch a header into the net.

His last-gasp goal sparked unbridled joy for the visitors who have now won four league games in a row, but it was heartache for an intrepid Luton side who had twice come from behind to lead early in the second half.

Arsenal have now taken nine extra points this season courtesy of goals scored in the last five minutes of games.

"Luton are a top side and they can't be overlooked in this league for the quality they have," Rice told Amazon Prime.

"To score in the last minute and keep the momentum building - it's massive for us. Those are the moments you look back on. What a game. To score the winner is an honour."

Arsenal have 36 points from 15 games played with Liverpool on 31 and champions Manchester City on 30 before their games at Sheffield United and Aston Villa respectively on Wednesday.

After a weekend of high-scoring encounters, the opening 20 minutes on a raw night at Kenilworth Road were uneventful with no hint of the thriller that was to unfold.

But the game exploded into life when some quick thinking from a throw-in ended with Gabriel Martinelli scuffing a shot inside the post from Bukayo Saka's cutback.

Luton responded five minutes later with Gabriel Osho powering a header past David Raya from Alfie Doughty's corner.

Saka and Martinelli were