Every year during the season, the midfield Premier League game on Christmas Eve always gets my heart racing, and unlike others who long for the red and white of Santa Claus, Luton are looking forward to the "red and white of the old man" which is the current Premier League leaders, Arsenal.
Luton are on the edge of the relegation zone, but a good run of one win and one draw in their last five matches, thanks to the home advantage I mentioned earlier, has given them a glimpse of light on their relegation march.
Like other relegation teams, Luton know that home is a treasure trove for winning points. They did just that in the win over Crystal Palace and the draw with Liverpool. While the other home losses weren't entirely satisfying, they'll have to be at their best against the table-toppers on Tuesday night.
Luton didn't need to change their strategy, persistence has started to reap results for them. Coaches sometimes need to be more patient, especially after being promoted from the Championship to the Premier League, and it takes time to adapt to a new cultural environment, as I'm sure all promoted teams have experienced this season.
Lockyer's absence due to injury is a big blow to Luton, who will be without their captain and leader for the next few weeks. In contrast, Arsenal are in a very different situation, having lost to Newcastle and are now unbeaten in five consecutive matches.
Bucayosaca, after a mini-slump, has picked up form recently with three of his last five games and is expected to play a key role in today's game.
However, Bucayo Shaka is not the only attacking weapon for Arsenal. Luton will not be able to withstand a strong attacking lineup consisting of Lee Ando Duchate, Gabriele Martinelli, Xaviers, Gabriele Jenksis and Martin Odigat. I had similar concerns when Liverpool visited Luton a few weeks ago, but I believe this Arsenal team is something else. They are like a smooth running machine, creating threats up front for 90 minutes.
With so many good players in the attack, De Grand Rice has been a credit to Arsenal over the past few weeks. His abundant physical strength and impressive ability to cover the pitch to fill in the gaps has provided solid cover for the front players in attack, and his energy and leadership will be key to Arsenal's fast-paced fixtures in the coming weeks.
