Luton Town

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Manager Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before Luton Town host Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday (15:00 BST kick-off).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Edwards is "hopeful" defender Reece Burke will be available but no other injured players will recover in time.

• Midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga remains sidelined but is "pushing" to return for the Brentford game on 20 April.

• Elijah Adebayo and Chieo Ogbene "are progressing" but need longer.

• On whether he will be forced to rush them back to help the team fight against relegation: "It is not on my mind right now and it is something the players would have to buy into as well because it is their bodies. They are really keen to push and they are. It will be rational and educated risks, but we will see when we get to the latter stage of the season."

• He said the four remaining home games "are like cup finals" and "the supporters will play a huge part" in helping the Hatters grind out results.

• On opponents Bournemouth: "It is not going to be easy but we know we can win. We can take some confidence from things we did well in the reverse fixture and learn from things we didn’t."

• Edwards said he "wants to see the players wear their hearts on their sleeve" and "give it everything" to get points.

• On survival hopes and pressure: "As difficult as it will be, a win against Bournemouth would put us in a fantastic position. We’ve been really focusing on this game because it can give us more belief and confidence. Three points at this stage would be really important."

• He said "the players have accepted the pressure" of the seven remaining games and added: "We have to do our job and try to control our destiny."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences here

I have been in lots of relegation battles. I got relegated in my first year in the Premier League with Manchester City when I was only a teenager. I had to deal with that adversity so I know what it is like.

I do not think people crack or feel anxious in relegation fights, but you know when you are beaten. It is hard to fully motivate yourself as a team to get the desire to go back out there.

In these battles there are always people complaining and there are changes too. Managers are under pressure and fans add pressure as well.

There is no doubt that it is difficult.

There might not be a lot of hope for those teams in the relegation zone at the moment, but those players will still want to be playing in the Premier League next season. So they still have to use this time to shine because they inevitably will want a move back to a top-flight club.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's Premier League fixture between Luton Town and Bournemouth.

• Luton won their last home league game against Bournemouth, beating them 3-2 in the Championship in January 2022. They last won consecutive such games against them in meetings in October 1936 and October 1963.

• Bournemouth came from 3-0 down to beat Luton 4-3 in the reverse fixture at the Vitality Stadium. They last did the league double over the Hatters in 2007-08 in League One, which included a 4-3 home win.

• Luton Town are winless in their last four home Premier League games since a 4-0 win over Brighton at Kenilworth Road in January. The Hatters have conceded first in all four games, having scored first in five of their previous seven on home soil.

• Bournemouth have won five away Premier League matches this season, as many as they won last season. Only in 2015-16 have they won more away matches in a single top-flight campaign.

• Luton have conceded 34 goals in 18 matches at Kenilworth Road in all competitions this season, their most in a season since 2019-20. Their average of 1.9 goals conceded per game is their joint-worst ratio on home soil in a season as a league club, along with 1962-63.

• Since losing six out of seven away Premier League matches between May and November last year, Bournemouth have lost just two of their last nine on the road ). They’ve netted 23 away goals this season, only scoring more in the 2018-19 Premier League campaign .

• There have been 48 goals scored in 15 Premier League matches played at Kenilworth Road this season with Luton scoring 22 and 26 for their opponents. There’s only been five stadiums that have seen 50+ goals scored in 16 or fewer games, most recently Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road in 2010-11.

• Since returning to the Premier League last season, Bournemouth haven’t lost a single match against a newly promoted club, winning two and drawing two as a promoted club themselves last season and winning four out of five games this season and have scored at least two goals in each of their last six.

We asked for your thoughts on Wednesday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Luton Town.

Here are some of your responses:

Arsenal fans

Vince: It is testament to how far Arsenal have come under Arteta that this game would be newsworthy only if it didn’t end in a home win. Before this, particularly at the closing stages of a season, a game against relegation battlers was potentially a banana peel or a test of Arsenal’s steel. None of that rubbish now. Bring on Brighton and Bayern!

Mark: We treated the Luton game like a training session when in reality goal difference this year could be vital. This could come back to haunt us.

John: Played like Champions. Every player contributed to the team. This is team work.

Luton fans

David: Another North London visit and noble defeat, there must be a lot of sore throats in Luton with the fans in full voice throughout. The patchwork quilt of a team worked relentlessly and with a bit more composure in the box could have got a miraculous point. It's a must-win against Bournemouth. Rob Edwards deserves it.

Nathan: I thought the boys gave everything they had to the cause. We defended brilliantly in the second half and most of the first half too, restricting a top side to mostly half chances. Arsenal were clinical when they had to be. We just missed that final killer pass or cross to really give the Arsenal defence something to really think about. COYH!!

Justin: We took a bit of time to settle into the game but considering the amount of injuries we have, I think overall we gave a good account of ourselves against a very good Arsenal side. I think a lot of people thought we would be onto a hiding and that didn't happen.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from this midweek's Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

A little more from manager Rob Edwards after Luton's defeat at Arsenal: "I believe we can do this, with every fibre of my being I believe in this group. We are competing in this league, we have had a lot of injuries and it has knocked our rhythm. We're in the games we're playing. We weren't out of it."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Luton manager Rob Edwards, speaking to TNT Sports after Wednesday's 2-0 loss at Arsenal:

"Parts of it were exceptional. After we went 1-0 down we saw a bit more of us, we were a bit braver and committed to be the team we wanted to be.

"I saw so many good things out there today. I thought the second half was an excellent performance by us. To stay in the game and still be in the game late on was really pleasing. We were aggressive but when we got into the final third we were lacking that final pass.

"I am really proud of the lads. It is hard to be at our best but we have come to Arsenal and lost 2-0 - that happens to many teams. There is no shame in that, I thought there were loads of good things.

"Tonight was never going to define our season. Saturday - Bournemouth, in the last 20 games, are around fifth in the table so it won't be easy, but our focus goes onto Saturday."

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Reuters

Another defeat for Luton but a night to remember for schoolboy Christian Chigozie.

Still in Year 11 at Chiltern Academy, next to Luton's training ground, Chigozie will be sitting his GCSEs this summer and Luton had to ask for the school's permission for him to miss classes to train with the first team last week.

On Wednesday, his name was read out over the speakers at Emirates Stadium after he was named on the Hatters' substitutes bench.

It is a sign of Luton's appalling injury problems that the youngster was called upon to fill the bench.

Boss Rob Edwards, however, believes he has a promising career ahead. He said: "We think highly of him. He's a great lad and we think he has got a big future.

"That shows you where we are at [in terms of injuries]. Four teenagers and two goalkeepers on the bench. Slightly different to Arsenal's bench I think."

Chigozie did not get on the pitch on a night when patched-up Luton made title-chasing Arsenal work hard for the points.

It will not be games against Arsenal that will decide whether Luton are in the Premier League next season. Instead, home matches against Bournemouth on Saturday - followed by the visits of Brentford, Everton and Fulham to Kenilworth Road - have taken on extra importance.

Here are the key facts and figures following Arsenal's Premier League win against Luton:

• Arsenal are unbeaten in each of their past 39 Premier League matches under Mikel Arteta in which they have been ahead at half-time (W36 D3), a run which has seen Arsenal win all of their past 15 matches when in front at the break.

• Arsenal have now won 12 of their 15 home matches in the Premier League this season (D2 L1); only in 1934-35 (13 wins) and 2002-03 (13 wins) had the Gunners picked up more home wins at this stage of a top-flight campaign.

• Luton have now failed to win any of their past 10 Premier League matches (D3 L7), their longest winless run across the top four tiers of English football since March 2008 (a run of 13 without victory in the third tier) and their longest run without a win in the top flight since December 1991 (run of 11).

• Kai Havertz has now been directly involved in 12 goals in the Premier League this season for Arsenal (eight goals, four assists), the outright most he has contributed in a single season in the competition.

• Luton's 38 away goals conceded is the most of any team in the Premier League this season, with the Hatters conceding an average of 2.4 goals per away match (38 in 16).

• Arsenal made five starting XI changes from their 0-0 draw with Manchester City last time out - their most from one Premier League fixture to another since September 2021 against Norwich (seven).

Arsenal overcame the absence of Bukayo Saka to move back to the top of the Premier League table with victory over struggling Luton at Emirates Stadium.

Leading scorer Saka was missing after suffering a knock against Manchester City at the weekend, but Mikel Arteta's much-changed side did enough to defeat their hard-working opponents and move back above Liverpool at the summit.

Captain Martin Odegaard fired the hosts into the lead in the 24th minute after Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu was bundled off the ball by Emile Smith Rowe, before the Gunners doubled their advantage shortly before half-time.

Japan defender Daiki Hashioka inadvertently put past his own keeper Thomas Kaminski in the 44th minute while trying to stop Reiss Nelson after Smith Rowe was afforded too much space in the penalty area.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Arsenal fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Luton fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

Three games make up Wednesday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

All times BST

Follow all of the action here

Around the grounds - listen to BBC Radio 5 Live coverage of all things Premier League

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For the midweek matches on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, he takes on UB40 drummer and Birmingham City fan Jimmy Brown.

Sutton's prediction: 3-0

Arsenal needed a last-gasp Declan Rice goal to clinch a crazy 4-3 win last time these teams met, but it won't be anywhere near as close at the Emirates.

Luton will have a go, we know that, but the Gunners showed how strong they are defensively in Sunday's goalless draw with Manchester City and I am expecting them to control this game from the start.

Brown's prediction: 3-1

There is no way Arsenal are going to drop any points here.

Read the rest of their predictions here

Here are the key facts and figures before Wednesday's Premier League fixture between Arsenal and Luton

• Arsenal have won all five of their league games against promoted sides this season, netting at least three goals each time (23 goals in total). The most combined goals any side has scored against promoted teams in a Premier League campaign is 24 – by Arsenal in 2012-13.

• Luton have taken just four points from 24 available from evening kick-offs (7pm or later) in the Premier League this season (W1 D1 L6), with their sole victory coming at home to Brighton in January (4-0).

• With eight goals and four assists, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has been involved in 12 goals in his past 12 Premier League appearances against promoted sides.

• Luton have scored in each of their past 18 Premier League games, the longest ongoing scoring streak. However, they’ve won just four of these 18 matches, and are winless in their past nine (D3 L6).

• Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus turns 27 on the day of this game. He scored on his 24th birthday for Manchester City against Leicester, and could become the first player to score a Premier League goal on his birthday for two different clubs.

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before Luton Town face Arsenal in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

Here are the key lines from the Hatters boss:

• In terms of team news, the three players who picked up injuries during the defeat at Tottenham "haven't trained yet" and they will need to be assessed ahead of this game. He was reluctant to give any indication of which players are closest to being available for selection.

• He added: "If they were ready, then I would pick them. If they are not, then I won't be able to. If they are not, we will see if we can turn them around for Saturday." He highlighted that if players are not ready to face Arsenal, they will be a "big doubt" for this weekend's game as well.

• Edwards described the current injury crisis as "the most difficult and challenging period I have ever faced" alongside the "serious incident" involving club captain Tom Lockyer earlier this season.

• He added: "If I'm speaking honestly, to be competing the way we did on Saturday, against another top team [Tottenham], with the challenge that we are facing - we are doing pretty well."

• After falling to a 4-3 defeat against the Gunners in the reverse fixture earlier this season, Edwards isn't expecting another goal fest between the teams: "Their defence is pretty stubborn, they don't give much away. It was a pretty unique game, as sometimes it can be at Kenilworth Road. They are in great form, especially since the break around January time."

• He joked: "Look, if we are able to go and score three goals at the Emirates, then we are doing pretty well. We will try and be the best version of us - that is difficult at the moment [with the injuries]."

• On how Arsenal might set up against the Hatters, he said: "They are so good with the ball that they are going to force us low. We are going to have to defend really, really well. We can do a lot of work on that and we will see."

• Edwards is "aware" that Luton have another big game on Saturday [against Bournemouth] but he isn't prioritising one game over another, stating: "We aren't really going to have anyone else that we don't have tomorrow, so that wouldn't make any difference."

Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences here

Ollie Kay
Fan writer

Ollie Kay can be found at We Are Luton Town, external

The injuries just do not stop coming.

With Alfie Doughty, Tahith Chong and Reece Burke going off this weekend it leaves us with 13 players available. Two of these are development players, Joe Johnson and Zack Nelson, who have been among the squad this season but are soon to become first names on the team sheet if this injury crisis continues to bite.

Regardless, with all our injuries, we went toe to toe with Tottenham, taking the lead early on but succumbing to an own goal and a quick Son break from our own corner.

Luton Town have and continue to give an incredible account of themselves this season. I have written about it before, where the fight and determination we have cannot be bought, it is simply part of the club's genetics with players carefully recruited so they match what we ask of them.

As the squad thins out because injuries, you see these players still giving their all for the shirt, for the fans and most importantly for their survival in the Premier League.

Relegation has not been confirmed, not by a long shot. Tough trips to Arsenal and Man City are soon to come, but then we get down to the meat and drink of what our survival will be decided upon. Games against those immediately around us - Everton, Brentford and other teams in the lower half of the table.

Survival is still in our hands, it always has been, the odds and injury table may be stacked against us, but we will continue to do what we do best, fight.

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

Chris asked: All the talk at the moment (quite rightly!) is about the most exciting title run in for years. However, my question is about the bottom of the league. Who do you think joins Sheffield United and (probably) Burnley in the Championship next season? Do you think Luton have enough fight to stay up or can they and Nottingham Forest do everyone a favour and get something against Everton and send them down?

Phil answered: I think Luton have actually been playing better than Everton and Forest for some time now but they seem to have a problem getting games over the line - leading then losing.

My current belief is that Luton Town, Sheffield United and Burnley will go down but then we have the unknown of points deductions imposed on Forest, which they are appealing against, and Everton – who may yet have more points deducted for another alleged breach of financial regulations.

Out of the three I have mentioned, I think Luton could be the team that could defy that prediction but they simply have to find a way to win games in a way that is currently escaping them, even when they have the lead.

We asked for your thoughts on Saturday's Premier League game between Tottenham and Luton.

Here are some of your responses:

Tottenham fans

Paul: Another woeful first half with no intensity and too many misplaced passes in the final third. The second half was different as we moved the ball quicker through the lines. Romero looked as if he was playing in slow motion and he needs to stop playing backwards and sideways as often as he does. Johnson turned the game as Kulusevski looked off it. COYS.

Ernie: It was an important win but a struggle to get it. We cannot continue giving the opposition the lead because we find it so difficult to turn things around. Once again the obvious lack of a plan B leaves everything looking so pedestrian. If Luton had only had more courage they could possibly have done what Fulham did. Thankfully they didn't!

Doug: What a hard fought three points. We were unlucky not to get more goals. Not taking anything away from Luton as they gave us a real battle. Johnson was fantastic again and he had a massive impact coming on in the second half, he’s really showing his true quality now but the whole team put a shift in. I love Luton’s spirit and I hope they stay up.

Luton fans

David: I was at the game and it was another game of great spirit and commitment. But we were undone by errors at the end and missed a great chance to steal a point. I'm proud of the effort and the football. We can survive but home games are now all must wins. Rob Edwards showed a masterclass in humility again.

Paul: Luton have 13 players out injured, (8 first team players out injured) but still Tottenham needed an own goal to beat what was effectively our reserve team. Amazing performance from the Luton players and the fans who provided the noise at an otherwise silent stadium.

Ant: Our first game back after the international break. Our squad is down to the bare bones but the injury crisis hasn't diminished our character or our fight. Luck does not appear to be on our side after some fantastic goal line clearances. We also saw the leveller come from an unlucky own goal and picked up some potential further injuries in the game.

Alex Scott introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's eight Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra match commentary in full:

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