Arsenal 0-0 Luton – Premier League LIVE: Latest score, team news and updates as Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson are handed rare starts

Arsenal have nearly passed half as many times as they did against Man City, already.

The Gunners have completed 110 passes to Luton’s 16. They only attempted 269 at the Etihad.

You feel they will reach that total pretty quickly.

Oleksandr Zinchenko is trying to get the crod going.

The atmosphere has been a little flat, despite me predicting it wouldn’t be, and perhaps that is because of what is happening on the pitch.

Not much doing for the Gunners so far, and the fans are reacting to that.

I really hope this isn’t a continuation of Sunday at the Etihad.

Arsenal have not got going as of yet, but Ben White has just had a cross tipped over for a corner after a mistake at the back by Luton.

Oleksandr Zinchenko then lets fly after the set-piece, but it’s blocked. A bit better from the Gunners.

Isaan Khan, Mail Sport, at the Emirates Stadium:

This is a huge game for Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe. It could well be there only chance until the season’s close to show their worth to Mikel Arteta.

Any Arsenal fans that wanted to see a fast start may have to be patient.

The early stages have shown that Arsenal will have the majority of the ball, as expected, but will have to work hard to break down this Luton side.

The Hatters will be happy to try and break when they can.

Both of our 7.30pm games have got underway.

Both have huge importance in terms of the title race, European football, and the fight for survival.

A very tasty evening in store.

Aadam Patel, Mail Sport, at the GTech Community Stadium:

Hold on! Ivan Toney has walked out and looks like he is fit to start!

Sami Mokbel, Mail Sport, at the Emirates Stadium:

I’m most interested to see how Thomas Partey gets on tonight as he returns to the starting XI for the first time in months. Brilliant player, and arguably the most complete midfielder at the club (even with Declan Rice). If they can keep him fit, his return is a major boost for the run-in.

You can feel the importance of this game in the crowd.

There are nerves, plus a willingness for their side to win. You know what that means, a good atmosphere.

Sadly we have to listen to the Premier League music, it’s not the best.

Aadam Patel, Mail Sport, at the GTech Community Stadium:

Late switch for the home side here with Ivan Toney getting injured in the warm-up. In comes Bryan Mbeumo for his first Brentford start since December.

Not good news for Brentford fans…

Emile Smith-Rowe – a player with lots of talent who has been blighted by injury.

He hasn’t had many chances this season, but tonight is a big one for him.

Impress tonight, you never know, he may just get more game time as the Gunners push for the title.

Or, he will at the very least impress potential suiters in the summer.

It seems Jurgen Klopp is keeping his focus on his own team, despite Arsenal and Manchester City playing tonight.

I didn’t even know they [Arsenal and city] play [tonight]. I expect them always to win.

I told you one story, years ago, I watched a game and wanted Leicester to win [against Manchester City in 2019] and it didn’t happen.

Brentford and Luton fans, this is the situation you are in.

So, if the Bees win tonight they can go above Crystal Palace in 14th, potentially putting a gap between them and the bottom three.

In Luton’s case, it is unlikely even with a win they will be out of the bottom three, but it would mean they go level on points with Nottingham Forest.

After Liverpool’s win at the weekend and the draw between Arsenal and Manchester City, this is how the top of the table looks tonight.

Come the end of the night, Arsenal could be back at the summit. I think we all expect that they will be.

Brighton could possibly rise to seventh with a win at Brentford in their fight for European football. There is a lot at stake.

The table is changing every day at this rate.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager, speaking to TNT Sports:

He [Bukayo Saka] had to come off against Man City feeling something and he hasn’t been able to do everything that we needed to give him the chance to start. So we have decided not to play him.

I wondered if Mikel Arteta would rotate his squad, and he has.

The Arsenal boss has decided to make five changes, one of those being Reiss Nelson, who comes in to make his first league start of the season.

Nelson can cause damage when he wants to, he scored some big goals last season.

in the absence of Bukayo Saka, he has to step up.

You can’t take your eyes off this Premier League title race for one second.

Yes, I’ll admit, Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash didn’t live up to the hype, but the result still left the top three extremely close.

Arsenal are the first team in action tonight, before Manchester City face Aston Villa at 8.15pm and Liverpool play Sheffield United at Anfield tomorrow.

Looking at the run-in, who do you think will win the Premier League title?

I remember vividly watching Declan Rice leap above the Luton defence and saying ‘goal’ before he even laid his head on the material of the ball. I know, it’s a special talent I have.

Wild celebrations then ensued in the Arsenal away end at Kenilworth Road. At that time, I thought that it could be the Gunners’ year. It just felt like they had that mentality that they lacked last campaign. I still feel that now.

It was a sensational game. One moment you thought Arsenal could batter Luton, the next it looked like the Hatters had completed a memorable comeback.

In the end, Declan Rice showed what he was made of by securing a 4-3 win in the final minute of stoppage time.

It was a Premier League classic. It would be great for the neutral if tonight was the same.

I think it’s fair to say, it’s not been the best of seasons for Brentford.

We are used to seeing them punch above their weight – they even fought for a spot in Europe last season – but maybe now they are in the position that should be expected of them.

Still, I have to mention that their defence has been extremely poor at times this season. Thomas Frank’s side have conceded in each of their last seven league matches.

Marry that up with Brighton’s attacking efficiency and you have a recipe for disaster – if you’re a Brentford fan.

I guess that means we can expect goals… I hope.

Aadam Patel, Mail Sport, at the GTech Community Stadium:

In his programme notes, Thomas Frank says he ‘would have lost faith in the football gods’ if his Brentford side failed to equalise against Manchester United on Saturday and added that Brentford ‘destroyed’ United.His side remain unchanged for the visit of Brighton tonight

Well then, Joao Pedro is trusted from the start.

The Brazilian is one of four changes to Roberto De Zerbi’s side that lost at Anfield on Sunday.

Adam Lallana also comes in, while Igor Julio and Facundo Buonanotte are both in from the start.

Unsurprisingly, Brentford are unchanged.

They were brilliant against Manchester United the other night, so if they can play anything like that, you feel a win is coming their way.

It means Bryan Mbuemo remains on the bench though.

There is some positive injury news for Luton, Alfie Doughty is fit enough to start.

It’s a big day for midfielder Fred Onyedinma as he makes his first Premier League start – what a place to make it.

Daiki Hashioka and Jordan Clark start once again. Tahith Chong, who scored at Spurs is only fit enough for the bench.

Bukayo Saka is at the Emirates, but he will not be involved tonight. I think he has earned the rest.

Declan Rice has also been rested and will take a place on the bench.

Reiss Nelson makes his first start of the season, while Emile Smith Rowe, Leandro Trossard, Reiss Nelson, and Oleksandr Zinchenko all start.

The Gunners are in the building.

Bukayo Saka has been spotted coming off the team bus, will he feature this evening?

We will find out in less than five minutes.

While Easter Sunday would have been the perfect day for Gabriel Jesus to mark his return to the starting line-up with a goal, his birthday wouldn’t be a bad time to get back in the goals.

Jesus celebrates his 27th birthday today and has a previous history of netting on his birthday. The Brazilian striker netted in a 2-0 win over Leicester City for his former club Manchester City in 2021.

If Jesus scores tonight, he will become the first player in Premier League history to score a goal on his birthday for two different clubs.

I love these stats. I really hope he features now.

When Nottingham Forest were handed a four-point deduction after breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules, it meant Luton leaped above them and out of the relegation zone.

However, it hasn’t taken long for the Hatters to fall back into 18th place. After the defeat to Spurs, and with Forest picking up four points from a possible six, Luton look in real danger.

Not all hope is lost though. Rob Edwards’ side have scored in 18 successive matches, and if they continue to do so for the rest of the season, they will be in the fight until the very end.

Their task to stay up gets no easier with their trip to the Emirates tonight.

Brighton will finally have their top scorer back tonight.

Joao Pedro has netted 19 times in all competitions for the Seagulls but has been out since early February through injury.

Roberto De Zerbi said yesterday that he ‘hadn’t decided’ how much time Pedro will get on the pitch today. Either way, it’s good news for Brighton fans that he is back in the squad.

Will he be in from the start though?

I’ve heard many Arsenal fans calling for Mikel Arteta to rest Bukayo Saka tonight, as well as many other first-teamers.

Saka has only missed one league match in the last three seasons, meaning he has featured in 104 out of a possible 105 league games.

The 22-year-old hobbled off against Manchester City at the weekend, and although Mikel Arteta has stated he is ‘fine’, tonight could be the perfect opportunity to give Saka some much-needed rest.

Luton could be without 13 players themselves, so will be a far cry from full strength. Maybe it’s time for Arteta to trust some of his fringe players to get the job done.

It will be interesting to see how Arsenal line up.

It’s fair to say Brighton have not enjoyed their trips to the capital this season.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side have visited London six times this campaign, not coming away with a win from any of them.

This could be a good opportunity to change that record and Brentford are winless in their last four home games have only won three out of their last 19 league games.

This could mean we could just be in for a draw though…

Arsenal have the chance to leap back above Liverpool tonight, who don’t play until tomorrow.

The Gunners are back in action at the Emirates as they face Luton, in what on paper would seem like a straightforward evening for them. However, matches in a title race are never simple.

I remember sitting down to watch Arsenal face a relegation-threatened Southampton at home last season, and they needed two late goals to salvage a point.

It must be noted that the Gunners are much stronger this season though. I fully expect them to make a statement tonight.

Having said that, Luton are in desperate need of three points in their hunt for survival. Which is what makes this match so interesting.

I’m sure Liverpool and Nottingham Forest fans will be watching.

London is the focal point for our two 7.30pm games tonight.

Both the top and bottom will be affected by what happens in the capital this evening, so let’s have a look at the fixtures we are bringing you in this live blog:

• Arsenal vs Luton 19:30 BST
• Brentford vs Brighton 19:30 BST

A lens will be zoomed in on the top of the table tonight.

The matches are coming thick and fast, Arsenal already have the opportunity to return to the top of the table tonight after they relinquished their spot at the summit on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Brighton will be aiming to avoid a fifth successive away defeat as they travel to Brentford. I know, I was shocked when I read this stat too.

Nothing is ever straightforward this time of the season, and that’s why I love it. So, expect the unexpected.

Will Arsenal be sitting pretty at the top of the tree for 24 hours, minimum? Can Brentford build on their performance against Manchester United?

Let’s get into the action.