Town's reserves side fell to their first defeat of the season as Arsenal came away from Portman Road with a 4-2 victory. Dean Bowditch scored twice for Town, but a hat-trick from Arturo Lupoli and one from Nicklas Bendtner secured the win for the Gunners.
With all fans situated in the Britannia Stand, Sol Campbell was getting a lot of attention before the match. Arsenal's other big-name star was midfielder Mathieu Flamini. Town included Jason De Vos, who completed 90 minutes, and on-loan defender James McEveley.
The first action came in the first minute when a good cross from Scott Barron was sliced back to him own keeper by Arsenal centre-back Matthew Connolly. Jaime Peters then got past Ryan Garry, but his cross was too close to keeper Jordan.
On four Arsenal's front two of Nicklas Bendtner and Arturo Lupoli combined to send Lupoli through one-on-one with Shane Supple, but the Town keeper saved at the feet of the Italian striker.
In the seventh minute, the two Deans combined for Ipswich, with Bowditch releasing McDonald and his cross was headed out by Sol Campbell.
Four minutes later and disaster for Town. Bendtner was sent through by Lupoli and Aidan Collins came sliding in but missed the ball and a penalty was given. As Collins had denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity, referee Beck showed him the red card. Lupoli stepped up to take the spot-kick and sent Supple the wrong way.
Town came back well with McDonald having a shot deflected out for a corner, but Arsenal managed to clear the danger.
On 16, Ryan Smith played a great through-ball to Lupoli, but this time his shot was touched round the post by a recovering Town defender. From the corner, the ball was hit into the net but ruled out for offside.
McDonald was looking lively against his former club and he beat Garry and hit his shot just past the far post.
Dean Bowditch should have equalised for Town in the 20th minute. McDonald's cross was glanced on by Bowditch and Peters collected the ball, but the referee stopped play because of a head injury to Bowditch. Arsenal's Matthew Connolly also had to have treatment.
Three minutes later and Supple again denied Lupoli with a fine stop from a one-on-one situation. Then Bendtner was booked for Arsenal after a late tackle on Town right-back Sammy Moore.
On 28, Bowditch almost made amends by getting down to a low McDonald corner, but his header flashed just wide of the post.
Smith then played the ball to Lupoli who beat four Town defenders before chipping the ball over Supple, but De Vos was on the line to head clear for Town.
Campbell then came forward and tried his luck but his shot went well wide of Supple's goal.
Arsenal doubled their lead through Lupoli on 37 minutes. The ex-Parma man received the ball and hit a left-foot shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.
In a much quieter second half the Gunners made it 3-0 when a cross from Bendtner was deflected in and Lupoli claimed the goal.
Ipswich then bought on Liam Trotter for Jimmy Juan and Chris Casement for Sammy Moore. Arsenal made a change on 63 when Shane Tracy came on for Ryan Garry.
On 70, Lupoli then fired another shot just wide before Anthony Stokes replaced Nicklas Bendtner for the visitors.
Six minutes later, a shot from 25 yards squirmed under Supple but the ball deflected up and over his bar. Liam Craig then replaced the injured Scott Barron who had taken a knock to his thigh.
With ten minutes remaining, Town pulled a goal back through Bowditch. A low cross from Peters was turned in by the Town front man from 12 yards out.
Bowditch tried his luck five minutes later from a free-kick, but it was deflected out for a corner.
Patrick Cregg had the chance to kill the game when he linked up with Lupoli but he failed to get in his shot and Supple gathered.
Bowditch then made it 3-2 when he hooked home in stoppage time to set-up a grandstand finish, but Bendtner jinked through the Town defence and finished past Supple to make the final score 4-2.
De Vos now looks certain to be involved for the first team at Sheffield United on Saturday, while Bowditch will have done his cause no harm with his two goals.
Reserves: Supple, Moore (Casement 58), McEveley, De Vos, Collins, Juan (Trotter 56), Peters, Horlock, Bowditch, McDonald and Barron (Craig 77). Unused: Haynes and Knights. Ref: SP Beck Att: 425.