The Premier League season has not yet reached its halfway mark and yet Arsenal knew this was a game they had to win. Liverpool’s excellent form at the top of the table had seen this happen. As frustrating as it was for long periods, Ipswich were digging deep, determined to respond to last Saturday’s 4-0 home defeat against Newcastle – the only real defeat they have suffered once this season.
Arsenals were banned. He was finding it difficult to get opportunities. But in the end, one goal was enough – with another clean sheet for David Raya, his 23rd goal in 50 league appearances for the club. The goalkeeper has more upside than the great David Seaman at this stage of his Arsenal career.
Kai Havertz was the scorer, converting Leandro Trossard’s cross into the goal midway through the first half and he made it look easy. The game was not like that for Arsenal and Ipswich, who remain in the relegation places, could have taken a lot from the resilience they showed.
Arsenal did what they had to do, keeping the division’s only unbeaten home record alive in the process. Despite playing an extra match, they are in second place, six points behind Liverpool. “Boring, boring Arsenal,” the Ipswich support chanted at the end, as Mikel Arteta’s team looked on, becoming somewhat nervous. Everyone at Arsenal smiled at him.
It was a night when Arsenal made their debut without Bukayo Saka, who is suffering the first major injury blow of his career after undergoing hamstring surgery; That’s when they had to start finding a way to replace his goals and assists.
As expected, Arteta’s move was to move Gabriel Martinelli to the right and recall Trossard on the left. More broadly, the idea is for Arsenal to perform better without Saka than they did without captain Martin Odegaard, when he missed seven league games since mid-September. The team won only three of them without him. It was a step on the right track, even if Martinelli got a little change from his marker, Leif Davis.
Kieran McKenna wanted Ipswich to be compact. He wanted his team to keep Arsenal in front of them and, of course, not let them slip around them. That’s why the concession was so disappointing to him.
Ipswich were very strong for the first 20 minutes. But then a cross from Martinelli from the right found Trossard on the other flank and it was a direct one-on-one between him and Ben Johnson. Trossard won it easily, flicking on the afterburner to reach the byline and cross. When the ball reached Havertz – and missed a few blue shirts on the way – a close-range finish was assured.
Ipswich switched between five and four at the back; It was more five than four, depending mainly on where Johnson was on the right side. They created a half-chance in the opening minute when Davies’ cross was deflected in and Sammy Szmodics could not get anything on it as it bounced. But the pattern for the remainder of the first half was much darker, with Arsenal dominating the ball, Ipswich with everyone behind them. After 27 minutes, Arsenal had an astonishing 92% possession.
Liam Delap tried to put himself at the top of the Ipswich formation and it certainly said something as the visiting goalkeeper, Arizente Muric, was ridiculed for wasting just 20 minutes. This happened when Jurien Timber ran straight at him. Through a small seam in the center of the pitch.
After newsletter promotion
Arsenal scored very little in the first half. Trossard had a shot blocked by Calvin Phillips, who impressed in his first start since November 2. Declan Rice whipped one from distance. Gabriel Jesus had the ball in the net but it was pulled back for offside.
Arsenal kept a fourth consecutive clean sheet at home in the league and it was a bold move by Arteta to maintain the fitness of Riccardo Calafiori with Miles Lewis-Skelley at left-back. The 18-year-old had a beautiful moment in the first half as he ran up the field trying to make something happen, away from a challenge. If it was notable, it was because there were a lot of flaws and not that much inspiration.
A second goal was needed to allow the home fans to breathe more easily and it was a mystery how Gabriel Magalhaes did not score after Rice headed a corner in the 63rd minute. All alone and with three yards to go, Gabriel headed wide of the post.
Odegaard’s influence increased after the interval, driving into the final third. He worked past Muric and picked out Rice for a volley from the resulting corner. Dara O’Shea was blocked. Arsenal pushed. Havertz missed his kick when in good position; Substitute Mikel Merino extended Muric. It was equally about how the home team kept the backdoor closed. Despite coming into good position in the second half, Ipswich never really posed any threat.