For the fifth time in 15 matches this season, Arsenal scored a late goal that changed the outcome of a game.
Declan Rice's header at Luton Town in the seventh minute of stoppage time was their third winning goal this season in the 89th minute or later, while they also scored an 86th-minute winner v Manchester City, and an 84th-minute equaliser at Chelsea.
Those goals have earned Arsenal an extra nine points this season, putting them five points clear at the top.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Arsenal
ARS
|
35 | +57 | 80 |
| 2 |
Man City
MCI
|
34 | +50 | 79 |
| 3 |
Liverpool
LIV
|
35 | +41 | 75 |
But without that never-give-up attitude, the picture would look very different.
Indeed, if you take away goals scored in the 89th minute or later this season, Arsenal would be second, four points behind Man City following Tuesday night's results.
Standings without 89th+ minute goals
| Club | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Man City | 11 | 1 | 2 | 34 |
| Arsenal | 8 | 6 | 1 | 30 |
| Newcastle | 9 | 2 | 3 | 29 |
| Liverpool | 8 | 5 | 1 | 29 |
| Aston Villa | 8 | 2 | 4 | 26 |
| Spurs | 7 | 3 | 4 | 24 |
| Brighton | 6 | 4 | 4 | 22 |
| Brentford | 6 | 4 | 4 | 22 |
| Man Utd | 6 | 2 | 6 | 20 |
| Chelsea | 5 | 3 | 6 | 18 |
| West Ham | 5 | 3 | 6 | 18 |
| Crystal Palace | 4 | 5 | 5 | 17 |
| Bournemouth | 5 | 2 | 7 | 17 |
| Wolves | 4 | 4 | 7 | 16 |
| Fulham | 3 | 5 | 6 | 14 |
| Nott'm Forest | 3 | 4 | 7 | 13 |
| Luton | 3 | 2 | 10 | 11 |
| Sheff Utd | 2 | 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Burnley | 2 | 2 | 11 | 8 |
| Everton* | 5 | 2 | 7 | 7 |
Data from @Orbinho
*Everton deducted 10 points following a breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules. Decision currently under appeal
Rice's goal on Tuesday was Arsenal's latest winner in a Premier League away match, timed at 96min 23sec, and the third latest overall.
Remarkably, Rice, who is just four months into his Arsenal career, has scored two of the Gunners' four latest winners in Premier League history.
Latest Arsenal PL winners
| Player | Match | Time of winner |
| Alexis Sanchez | ARS 2-1 BUR, 2016/17 | 97:14 |
|---|---|---|
| Reiss Nelson | ARS 3-2 BOU, 2022/23 | 96:59 |
| Declan Rice | LUT 3-4 ARS, 2023/24 | 96:23 |
| Declan Rice | ARS 3-1 MUN, 2023/24 | 95:43 |
| Jose Sa (own goal) | ARS 2-1 WOL, 2021/22 | 94:55 |
It puts Rice already among Arsenal's most clutch players late in matches. Only Ian Wright, with four, and Thierry Henry, with three, have scored more winning goals for the club in the 90th minute or later.
More late goals than ever before
It also continues a trend that is making 2023/24 the best season ever for late drama.
Rice's goal was the 13th latest winner in Premier League history, five of which have come this season.
Latest winning goals
| Date | Player | Match | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Sep 2023 | Dejan Kulusevski | Spurs 2-1 Sheff Utd | 99:53 |
| 26 Sep 2020 | Bruno Fernandes | Brighton 2-3 Man Utd | 99:45 |
| 4 Nov 2023 | Oliver Norwood | Sheff Utd 2-1 Wolves | 99:17 |
| 17 Mar 2022 | Alex Iwobi | Everton 1-0 Newcastle | 98:20 |
| 4 May 2023 | Alexis Mac Allister | Brighton 1-0 Man Utd | 98:17 |
| 16 Sep 2023 | Douglas Luiz | Villa 3-1 Palace | 97:33 |
| 12 Nov 2022 | Ivan Toney | Man City 1-2 Brentford | 97:17 |
| 22 Jan 2017 | Alexis Sanchez | Arsenal 2-1 Burnley | 97:14 |
| 31 Aug 2022 | Fabio Carvalho | Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle | 97:10 |
| 04 Mar 2023 | Reiss Nelson | Arsenal 3-2 Bournemouth | 96:59 |
| 11 Nov 2023 | Mario Lemina | Wolves 2-1 Spurs | 96:37 |
| 26 Aug 2017 | Raheem Sterling | Bournemouth 1-2 Man City | 96:34 |
| 5 Dec 2023 | Declan Rice | Luton 3-4 Arsenal | 96:23 |
Of the 450 goals scored this campaign, 43 have come in second-half stoppage time.
That share of 9.6 per cent is the highest on record by some margin.
Highest % stoppage-time goals
| Season | Stoppage-time goals | Total goals | % of total goals |
| 2023/24 | 43 | 450 | 9.6% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 72 | 1,071 | 6.7% |
| 2018/19 | 71 | 1,072 | 6.6% |
