Title hopefuls Arsenal rode a Kai Havertz goal to a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town at the Emirates Stadium in a dominant but finish-challenged affair that saw the Gunners sorting out life without injured Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal move to 36 points, six behind Liverpool. The leaders have a match-in-hand, while the second-place Gunners are seven points clear of fifth place.
Ipswich defended with vigor and avoided a big hit to their goal differential. The Tractor Boys sit 19th with 12 points, three behind 17th-place Wolves.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta confirmed after the game that Saka had surgery on his torn hamstring, saying the club’s megastar forward will be out for “more than two months.”
Gunners have just enough steam, but does Arteta trust his depth?
A familiar question emerged from Friday’s game, dominated by the Gunners at the Emirates but still in the balance as Ipswich earned some late time with the ball in the Ipswich Town end — why couldn’t Arsenal kill this off earlier? Credit to Ipswich for its stout and committed defense as they parked the bus, er, tractors, but this 1-0 coming in the first game of several without the marvelous Bukayo Saka will lead to discussions about their ability to produce enough moments of magic without the England playmaker. Gabriel Martinelli was not at his best and Gabriel Jesus cooled off after his five-goal run last week. Jorginho and Ethan Nwaneri were the only non-defenders left unused on the bench, as Raheem Sterling is also out for as long as a month. That shows a lot of faith in his starting attackers, but beyond that? Arteta has rotated more this season than last but could easily slip into another stubborn stretch without some more options. It seems likely Arsenal will sign a new face in attack this January.
Arsenal vs Ipswich Town player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Arijanet Muric, Kalvin Phillips, and Leif Davis all had big days at the back for Ipswich, but Liam Delap’s slump up top continues for Ipswich. Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz both helped the Gunners control the game, with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard an even higher class in that regard.
Arsenal vs Ipswich Town player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Arsenal vs Ipswich Town player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Ipswich host Chelsea at 2:45pm ET Monday, while Arsenal won’t play until 12:30pm ET, New Year’s Day, at Brentford.
How to watch Arsenal vs Ipswich live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3:15pm ET Friday (December 27)
Venue: Emirates Stadium — London
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Arsenal vs Ipswich final score: 1-0
Kai Havertz 23'
Arsenal vs Ipswich live updates — By Nick Mendola
Subs have not changed much
Mikel Merino replaced Gabriel Jesus, with Kai Havertz going to forward.
Jack Clarke entered for Ipswich’s Sammi Szmodics at the same time.
The game is still Arsenal camped in the Ipswich end, and the Tractor Boys hoping to counter attack.
Arsenal just miss from a corner
Another well-worked routine to the back post, but Gabriel Magalhaes heads down and just wide of the goal from very close range.
Ipswich still in this in the 64th minute.
Halftime — Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich Town
At least Ipswich Town got to the locker room within a goal, because this was all Gunners.
Arsenal have taken all four of the game’s shot attempts while holding 83% of the ball.
It’s taken resolve from Ipswich, but they are limiting chances aside from Havertz’s goal.
Kai Havertz goal (video) — Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich Town (23rd minute)
There’s the breakthrough for Arsenal, and it comes from the left.
Leandro Trossard collects the ball at the top left corner of the 18, then drives past Ben Johnson toward the end line.
His left-footed cross flies by four Ipswich players to Havertz, who thumps it out of the air and past a flying Arijanet Muric for his seventh goal of this Premier League season.
It is a well-deserved 1-0 to the hosts.
Gunners inspired as Martinelli bids to fill Saka-sized hole
Arsenal’s action is free-flowing and almost entirely in the Ipswich final third.
Kalvin Phillips and Omari Hutchinson try to box the Gunners in the right corner with physical play and it half works; Arsenal keep the ball and again build their attack.
Right now this only looks to be going one way, with Arsenal holding 90% of the ball. However, the Gunners have only gotten away a single shot attempt in over 16 minutes.
Half-chances for both
Ipswich and Arsenal have both had moments in the first five minutes, but the favorites are clear through both possession and intent.
The Gunners get the game’s first corner, but it’s handled by the Tractor Boys.
Arsenal lineup
Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Havertz, Odegaard, Martinelli, Trossard, Jesus
Ipswich lineup
Muric, Johnson, O’Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis, Phillips, Cajuste, Hutchinson, Szmodics, Delap
Arsenal vs Ipswich Town preview — By Joe Prince-Wright
Title hopefuls Arsenal host relegation strugglers Ipswich at the Emirates on Friday. And the Gunners know a win will take them up to second in the Premier League table.
Mikel Arteta will be hoping his Arsenal side can show they can cope with the absence of Bukayo Saka. The England superstar suffered a serious hamstring injury in their 5-1 win at Crystal Palace at the weekend and will be missing for “many weeks” which is a big blow for the Gunners. Gabriel Jesus could line up as a right winger in Saka’s absence and it will take a collective effort from Arsenal’s entire forward unit to try and get near to replacing the creativity and output of Saka.
Ipswich are scrapping away in the relegation zone but were hammered 4-0 at home by Newcastle last time out. Still, Kieran McKenna’s side are within two points of safety and they would have taken that if you offered it to them at the start of the season. Ipswich are dangerous on the counter and from set pieces and will look to soak up pressure at Arsenal and make it two wins from two in north London this season after their shock win at Tottenham earlier in the campaign.
Arsenal team news, focus
The big question is who will be tasked with replacing Saka in the Arsenal lineup? Jesus seems the obvious choice given his recent form and playing out on the right before, with Kai Havertz likely to play up top. Trossard and Martinelli both prefer the left, while Sterling being out injured is a blow too as he could have come in for Saka. Elsewhere Arteta has rotated heavily in recent weeks with Rice, Calafiori, Trossard, Jorginho and Merino all possibly coming into the lineup as the Gunners look to stay fresh.
OUT: Bukayo Saka (hamstring - MORE), Raheem Sterling (knee), Ben White (knee), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Oleksandr Zinchenko (undisclosed)
Ipswich team news, focus
Liam Delap is back from suspension which is a huge boost for the Tractor Boys. He will lead the line and the likes of Szmodics and Hutchinson will try their best to support him on counters. Muric will have a busy day in goal and is capable of pulling off spectacular saves but Arsenal will try to pressure him to force a mistake with his feet.
OUT: Sam Morsy (suspension), Axel Tuanzebe (hamstring), George Hirst (knee), Janoi Donacien (groin), Chiedozie Ogbene (achilles - out for season)
Arsenal vs Ipswich prediction
This feels like an easy home win. Arsenal will start fast and it will be tough for Ipswich to launch the counters they thrive on. Arsenal 3-1 Ipswich.
