Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp has already outlined the threat of Luton Town to Arsenal ahead of the clash between the two sides on Tuesday night. The Gunners prepare for the short trip in some decent form in the Premier League, winning four of their last five matches.
It’s a run that has seen them ascend to the very top of the table, despite some reservations over their style of play so far this campaign. There’s a more resolute edge to this side that has seen them move three points clear of Manchester City and two points ahead of Liverpool in the title race.
That lead can be extend further, albeit that may only last for one day, but victory over the Hatters could add to their advantage in front while their rivals wait to play on Wednesday. That’s not to say that the match itself will be a walk in the park, especially at Kenilworth Road.
“They know. We have already warned them,” Mikel Arteta said of the challenge ahead for his players. “They know the kind of access, about everything. They have to know about the team they’re going to face tomorrow, the difficulties of playing against them and where the opportunities are to win the game as well.”
Arsenal don’t have to look far to see how tough it can be to take on a side that will be more than motivated for such a big occasion in front of their fans. Title rivals Liverpool had their own struggles as they had to come from behind to draw the game 1-1 in the final few moments.
Klopp outlined the issues his team faced in the match in his post-match press conference, claiming: “Credit to Luton, they did really well but even with all what they did, we created chances and didn’t finish them off with the last conviction, to be 100 per cent honest. We were not calm enough in these moments. We should have scored and we should have created.
“With a 0-0 and the idea of Luton, which is fine and no problem with that – set-pieces and counter-attacks – they stay in the game, so you have to make sure beforehand that they are not in the game anymore, but they were in the game. They had the counter-attack, scored the goal and I think everybody knows we should have won that ball – or shouldn’t have lost the ball – at the 18-yard line.
“Then they scored, we scored the equaliser. I respect a lot what they do but the way they defend set-pieces defensively… if you watch it back, that’s wrestling. It’s not on the edge, it’s on the wrong side, but they don’t get punished, so why should they change it?”
In all, it outlines the need for Arsenal to be clinical with their chances to deny any chance of Luton finding the scoresheet with the few chances they may be predicted to have. If they can gain control and keep the Hatters out of the clash, then it could be another three points added to the Gunners’ tally.