Dramatic Kenilworth: Arsenal 4-3, Liverpool Leads Late Wins

 Dramatic Kenilworth: Arsenal 4-3, Liverpool Leads Late Wins

Declan Rice of Arsenal celebrates victory with teammate Gabriel after defeating Luton Town 4-3 with a last minute winner during the Premier League match between Luton Town and Arsenal FC at Kenilworth Road on December 05, 2023 in Luton, England.(Image-Getty)

At Kenilworth Road, the Luton Town-Arsenal clash hung in suspense as the referee prepared to blow the final whistle. The intense battle culminated in a 3-3 tie until the 96th minute. Luton, eager for a point, saw their hopes dashed when Declan Rice struck in the 97th minute, securing a 4-3 victory for Arsenal. Rice's remarkable goal marked his 12th game-winning strike after the regulation 90 minutes for the season.

This penchant for late-game heroics is not unique to this season; the Premier League has witnessed numerous instances of teams clinching victories in the dying moments. Some clubs have mastered the art of scoring in the last minute, securing triumphs, while others have faltered due to lax defense in the closing stages.

The statistical frontrunner in securing last-minute victories is Liverpool, boasting 42 wins by scoring in the 90th minute or later, as per Opta. Their most recent feat occurred in August when Darwin Nunez netted a late goal against Newcastle, overcoming a red card for Virgil von Dijk and clinching victory despite being reduced to 10 men.

Arsenal follows closely behind Liverpool, with Rice's goal against Luton marking their 32nd last-minute triumph, the fifth for the current season. Notably, Arsenal set a new record, claiming the distinction of being the only team to score four last-minute goals before the midway point of a Premier League season.

Tottenham ranks third with 31 late goals, followed by Manchester United (29) and Chelsea (26). However, Tottenham also leads in the unfortunate category of conceding goals in the 90th minute or later, with 27 instances. A recent example unfolded against Wolves, where Tottenham squandered a 1-0 lead with goals from Pablo Sarabia in the 91st minute and Mario Lemina in the 97th.

Other teams facing late-match setbacks include Aston Villa (24), Everton (20), Fulham (20), and Manchester City (19). Notably, Manchester United, a 13-time Premier League champion, has suffered only five losses due to last-minute goals, with the lone defeat during Alex Ferguson's tenure in 2007 against Arsenal's Thierry Henry.