Rob Edwards knows Luton must improve at the back despite a defensive injury crisis but says Luton will face Premier League leaders Arsenal with no fear because they’ve already performed well at Kenilworth Road against Tottenham and Liverpool.
Town haven’t faced the Gunners since 1991 but up until then they hadn’t lost to the north Londoners in 11 matches in all competitions in LU4.
The Hatters take on Mikel Arteta’s top-flight front-runners having taken four points from their last two games on home soil. But they lost 3-1 at Brentford on Saturday, where defensive duo Tom Lockyer (back) and Teden Mengi (knee) were both withdrawn and are doubts for arguably Luton’s toughest test to date, though Alfie Doughty may return from a hip injury.
“We look forward to these games. We’ve just challenged the boys. We want to get something from the games,” Hatters boss Edwards told the club’s website.
“We’ll have to be better defensively. In the first half (against Brentford) we were good defensively, but in those moments we’ve got to be better.
“We’ve got to hope to get a few of our defenders back and on the pitch because we will be tested, there’s no doubt about it.
“But at home, at Kenilworth Road, anything is possible. I know the supporters are going to bring the noise. I know they’re going to be looking forward to these games as well.
“We certainly are. We’re not going to have any fear. We’ll look to be brave and try to get something from the game.
“We’ll have a plan, clearly. We’ve got to show them respect and I think we’ve done that in the games where we’ve played Tottenham or Liverpool. At home we’ve shown that.
“We’ve shown that we can compete with these teams at home, so we’ll be looking to do the same.”
With Manchester City up next at the weekend, the injuries to key defenders, Lockyer, Mengi, Reece Burke, Mads Andersen and Dan Potts, leave Luton looking light at the back.
“We have got people that are coming back,” said Edwards, adding: “They’re on the road back, but whether they’re ready to start games of this calibre we’ll have to see.”
Edwards admitted his men were second best against Brentford at the weekend so in preparing to deal with the threats of Arsenal, he told a press conference: “We’re going to have to be good without the ball and be more aggressive than the weekend
“We’re coming up against one of the best teams in the world.
“I think they’re outstanding. They’ve had some changes with a new goalkeeper and (Declan) Rice and a couple of tactical tweaks.
“But if you look at them they give away so little chances, they’re very well organised, they have such power. They’re a stronger outfit than they were last year.
“They’ve brought in another top player (Rice) and they’re strong in all aspects.
“They can control the game, from set-pieces they’re strong, they’re quick and technically good.
“It’s a hard game but like every team they’ll give spaces away and we have to exploit them.
“This is a team that will ask a lot more questions than Brentford on Saturday and we need to do better in defending the box.”
