Three Nigerians were on target for Luton Town FC but it wasn’t enough as they slumped to a 3-4 defeat against Arsenal, who picked up their first first at Kenilworth for the first time in 40 years.
After Gabriel Martinelli put Arsenal ahead, Gabriel Osho drew Luton level a little less than a minute later. He however wasn’t the only Nigerian on the score sheet in the game.
Gabriel Jesus gave Arsenal a 2-1 lead going into the half time break with a well placed header from a Ben White delivery. That lead was erased six minutes into the second half when Elijah Adebayo struck to draw Luton level after a howler from Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya.
While the aforementioned duo who were on the score sheet for Arsenal are still eligible for Nigeria at senior level, as they are yet to be capped by England at any level, the third goal for the home side was scored by a player who was born to a Nigerian father and an English mother but isn’t eligible to play for Nigeria anymore.
Ross Barkley sneaked his effort under Raya to put his team ahead for the first time in the game. But just when he thought his goal would earn his side a point Declan Rice struck late into the game to hand Arsenal all three points courtesy of a 3-2 win.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
