Arsenal 2-0 Luton: Martin Odegaard on target as Gunners go top of Premier League with routine win

Arsenal moved to the top of the Premier League as they eased to a 2-0 win over Luton.

With Liverpool not in action until they host Sheffield United on Thursday night, the Gunners were presented with the chance to edge ahead of their title rivals, even if it is likely only for 24 hours.

Mikel Arteta’s side held up their end of the bargain, as Martin Odegaard opened the scoring and an own goal from Daiki Hashioka doubled the lead before the break, providing Arsenal with a position of strength that they never looked like relinquishing.

The Arsenal boss made five changes, as Bukayo Saka missed out on the squad and Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey were among those to come into the side in north London.

Smith Rowe took his chance, playing a crucial role in both goals. He won the ball back in the Luton half to set Arsenal on the attack for the opener, before Kai Havertz played it through to Odegaard to lash home a first-time finish.

And Smith Rowe was again involved shortly before the break, making the run in behind and getting to the byline, as he rolled the ball across the face of goal. Reiss Nelson could not turn it into an empty net from a couple of yards out, but Hashioka behind him did not react in time as he bundled the ball into his own.

The Gunners offered very little in the second-half but the job had already been done, with Luton kept at arm’s length. It is a month that will likely define Arsenal’s season, domestically and in Europe, and it was a successful, if somewhat low-key, start.