(Football news) Over the weekend, the Hatters suffered a 3-1 loss to Brentford, while Mikel Arteta’s team defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 to increase their lead at the top of the table.

During the first 45 minutes of Luton’s match against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, Rob Edwards’s tenacious defense proved to be victorious over Thomas Frank’s irritated front line; but, an untimely injury to captain Tom Lockyer would ultimately be the Hatters’ undoing.

Neal Maupay and Ben Mee were able to get past Luton’s reorganized defense before Jacob Brown scored his second goal in as many gameweeks off the bench for the visitors. However, Shandon Baptiste promptly restored the Bees’ two-goal lead in West London.

Although the Hatters are currently just above the dotted line in 17th place thanks to their first-ever Premier League home victory over Crystal Palace two weekends ago, Edwards was not under the impression that Luton was second best throughout the afternoon and bemoaned “a few early Christmas gifts” that his side gave away in the bitter cold.

Luton’s lead over their relegation rivals is now just two points, though, as Everton and Burnley victories over the weekend have left the home team without a clean sheet this year. Additionally, the team has failed to score in the first half of 13 of its 14 top-flight games this season.

Nevertheless, the Hatters have not been destroyed at their Kenilworth Road home thus far this season—Toronto Hotspur won by just one goal, and Liverpool was held to a scoreless draw—but before 2024, all three of Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Chelsea will make visits to the modest grounds.

Arsenal, who have frequently found it difficult to establish an early lead in games this season, got off to a flying start against Wolves on Saturday, as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard gave the Gunners a 2-0 lead with just 13 minutes played. This matchup presented Luton with the first of four upcoming tough home matches.

However, a plethora of excellent opportunities to extend their lead eluded Arsenal. Matheus Cunha offered Wolves a glimmer of late hope with a neat finish in front of the away end, and Eddie Nketiah bizarrely struck the post while going one-on-one with Daniel Bentley, the substitute goalkeeper.

Also read: Manchester United will play Chelsea in Premier League