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Arsenal 1 v 0 Ipswich Town
FA Premier League
Friday, 27th December 2024 Kick-off 20:15
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Friday, 27th Dec 2024 22:16

Kai Havertz’s first-half goal was enough to see Arsenal to a 1-0 victory over the Blues at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners utterly dominated the first half but with Town limiting their chances, while Town had more opportunities to counter-attack in the second period but without ever seriously threatening to get back on terms.

Town boss Kieran McKenna made five changes with Luke Woolfenden, Ben Johnson, Jacob Greaves, Kalvin Phillips and Liam Delap coming into the team.

The Blues switched to the system that saw them to a 2-1 win at Spurs on their last visit to North London with a back three of Dara O’Shea, who skippers the club for the first time, on the right with Woolfenden in the centre and Greaves on the left.

Ben Johnson and Leif Davis were the wing-backs with Phillips joining Jens Cajuste in the centre of midfield with captain Sam Morsy suspended.

Omari Hutchinson, a former Gunners academy player, and Sammie Szmodics were the number 10s behind lone striker Delap, back after his one-match ban.

Harry Clarke, another one-time youth player with the North Londoners, Wes Burns and Conor Chaplin dropped to the bench and Cameron Burgess was out of the 20-man squad but having travelled.

For Arsenal, Declan Rice came back into the team for Thomas Partey, while Leandro Trossard replaced Bukayo Saka, who suffered a hamstring injury in the 5-1 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Town almost got the game off to a shock start in the opening 25 seconds, a Davis cross from the left clipping Jurrien Timber and Szmodics behind him only just failed to connect at the near post.

But after that, the early stages were all Arsenal, passing the ball around, prodding and probing and looking for an opening, but without threatening keeper Aro Muric, aside from a seventh-minute corner which the Kosovan punched to the edge of the area where Gunners’ skipper Martin Odegaard mishit his shot.

On 14, Trossard worked himself some room on the left edge of the box but saw his effort deflect behind with Town defending another corner against the division’s set-play experts.

The Blues continued to frustrate the Gunners, who at this stage had had 89 per cent of the possession, but in the 19th minute Timber brought the ball forward from deep before hitting a shot straight at Muric, who claimed.

Town were defending resolutely, despite the game being played almost entirely in their final third, but in the 23rd minute the Gunners finally created a serious opening and went ahead.

Trossard got round the outside of Johnson on the left of the box and sent over a cross from the byline which Woolfenden and Greaves both failed to connect with and Havertz volleyed into the net from a couple of feet in front of the line, the German international’s 12th goal of the season.

Arsenal went looking for their second, maintaining their dominance on the ball before Rice shot not too far over from 25 yards.


Town launched a rare attack in the 32nd minute, Hutchinson breaking away in the Gunners’ half before feeding Johnson on the right but the former West Ham man’s cross deflected into the arms of home keeper David Raya.

Arsenal had the ball in the net for a second time in the 35th minute when Gabriel Jesus was played in on goal by Trossard and forced the ball past Muric from a very tight angle, Gabriel Martinelli adding a final touch with it already over the line. The assistant’s flag was immediately raised and VAR upheld the decision.

That was the last chance of the first half with the Gunners continuing to dominate until the break.

The first period had been all Arsenal, the half-time possession stat of 84.3 per cent in their favour illustrating their superiority on the ball.

Town had defended resiliently with the goal the only out-and-out chance the home side had created.

However, aside from Davis’s early cross and Johnson’s later ball into the box, the Blues had presented no threat at all going forward having been unable hold possession for more than a few passes at any stage.

Town were first to attack following the restart, Szmodics taking the ball into the box on the left before being dispossessed.

But the Gunners soon began to threaten again, Odegaard driving through the middle before hitting a shot which Greaves blocked. On 49, a Trossard effort from the left of the area was similarly stopped by Johnson.

Two minutes later, Hutchinson tried to trick his way past Myles Lewis-Skelly on the right of the box and went to ground. However, referee Darren England gave a free-kick against the Town forward and there didn’t appear to have been enough in the challenge to warrant a penalty.

On 52, Phillips tactically fouled Rice just outside the Town box with Odegaard eventually slamming the free-kick into the wall. As Hutchinson broke, the forward, was was booed by his old fans for his move to Chelsea as a youngster, was hauled back by Havertz, who was shown the game’s first yellow card.

As the game approached the hour mark, the Blues started to keep the ball in the Arsenal half for the first time, Hutchinson and Davis sending over crosses from each flank but without finding a teammate in the middle with Delap crowded out.

In the 59th minute, Phillips whipped a dangerous free-kick into the area from deep on the right, which was nodded behind for Town’s first corner of the evening. However, Davis struck the first defender with his flag-kick.

Arsenal quickly went back on the offensive and in the 63rd minute Havertz was played in on the left and Woolfenden did well to divert out for a corner.

From the resultant corner, Gabriel Magalhaes should have scored. The Brazilian international, the highest scorer from set pieces in Europe’s top leagues, got away from Delap at the far post but nodded into the ground and wide when it seemed easier to score.

Moments later, Davis became the first Town player to get his name taken, for a foul on Odegaard, who was OK to continue after requiring treatment.

The Blues saw more of the ball in the second half and had been able to break through Hutchinson in particular on a number of occasions, but too often the attack broke down due to a poor decision or pass.

Town made their first change of the evening in the 72nd minute, Jack Clarke, a former Tottenham player, replacing Szmodics, who had put in his usual busy shift on the left but may have been rueing not getting his toe to the Blues’ early chance. Arsenal switched Jesus for Mikel Merino.

A minute later, Odegaard brought the ball forward into the area, twisted and turned and then hit a shot which Muric did well to palm over.

Following the corner, Rice smashed a goal-bound shot which O’Shea blocked for another flag-kick with the Blues again under pressure.

In the 75th minute, the Gunners went close again, Trossard nodding a cross from the right down to Havertz, who was forced off the ball by Greaves and Muric was able to bundle it behind from inside his six-yard area.

Muric was busy again two minutes later, the Blues’ keeper getting across to his right to push Merino’s shot away from goal.

Town made a triple change in the 80th minute, replacing Cajuste, Johnson and Delap for Jack Taylor, Nathan Broadhead and Ali Al-Hamadi. Seven minutes later, Arsenal swapped Rice for Partey.

Two minutes from the end, the Blues failed to make the most of a promising situation, Taylor sweeping wide to Davis when he might have shot and the left-back losing out to Timber.

In the final minute, with Town having shown more threat since the substitutions with Broadhead again having been a positive influence, Hutchinson looped a cross into Raya’s arms.

Seconds into four minutes of time added on, Harry Clarke replaced Woolfenden to polite applause from the fans of the club where he spent eight years.

In the dying seconds, Town were pushing for an equaliser, Broadhead working space just inside the area on the right before hitting a shot which Havertz blocked.

The whistle went soon afterwards to confirm a Gunners victory, the home side having been very dominant for long spells but with the Blues defending resolutely and preventing them from creating many clear-cut chances with the goal their only real first-half opportunity.

The home side had further chances in the second period, Gabriel missing the best of them and Muric making a couple of decent saves.

Town, who had presented no attacking threat in the first period, had opportunities to break in the second but too often poor passes or decisions saw promising situations break down and ultimately Raya was never really tested to any degree.

After the 4-0 loss at home to Newcastle on Saturday, it was important that the Blues weren’t on the end of another heavy defeat and there’s little disgrace in losing 1-0 at Arsenal and there were positives to take from the performance, not least limiting Arsenal to few big chances, while the Phillips-Cajuste central midfield partnership showed promise.

The Blues, who remain 19th in the division, three points from safety following Wolves’ 2-0 victory over Manchester United yesterday, have another tough game up next, at home to Chelsea on Monday.

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Rice (Partey 87), Havertz, Odegaard (c), Martinelli, Trossard, Jesus (Merino 72). Unused: Neto, Zinchenko, Tierney, Kiwior, Calafiori, Jorginho, Nwaneri.

Ipswich: Muric, Johnson (Broadhead 80), O’Shea (c), Woolfenden (H Clarke 90), Greaves, Davis, Phillips, Cajuste (Taylor 80), Hutchinson, Szmodics (J Taylor 72), Delap (Al-Hamadi 80). Unused: Walton, Townsend, Burns, Chaplin. Referee: Darren England (Doncaster). VAR: Alex Chilowicz.


Photo: Reuters



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delias_cheesy_flaps added 22:20 - Dec 27
Expected result, unexpected scoreline, but why oh why didn't we put some crosses into the box in injury time, we seem scared!
21

TimmyH added 22:20 - Dec 27
Well overall I think McK got the tactics right tonight, parked the bus a bit 1st half which was largely effective other than the one occasion, 2nd half a bit more emphasis on progressing up the field but sadly with little intent on shooting and over passing or not picking the correct pass but overall not an embarrassing score line and something to work from.

Thought Cajuste and Phillips did okay tonight whilst some of our attacking players were a bit off it...Hutchinson and Delap in particular.
19

Stato added 22:21 - Dec 27
I can't understand why KM continues to give Hutchinson so many minutes when he has produced almost nothing by way of goals ir assists all season. Meanwhile Chaplin eho has outscored him and higher assists is spending way too much time on the bench.
29

EssexTractor added 22:22 - Dec 27
First half ITFc starstruck
Second half a semblance of a comeback
Delap had no support from midfield and when he scrapped for it but could not take on Arsenals superb centre backs.
Rarely do I agree with Shearer but his advice of “ shoot” was one to sympathise with.

Although in latter stages both Taylor and Broadhead look to be in serious contention for selection
And if Burgess fithe must be recalled
But seriously this was Arsenal years of skill and experience, however not as rampant as Liverpool
6

EssexTractor added 22:23 - Dec 27
First half ITFc starstruck
Second half a semblance of a comeback
Delap had no support from midfield and when he scrapped for it but could not take on Arsenals superb centre backs.
Rarely do I agree with Shearer but his advice of “ shoot” was one to sympathise with.

Although in latter stages both Taylor and Broadhead look to be in serious contention for selection
And if Burgess fithe must be recalled
But seriously this was Arsenal years of skill and experience, however not as rampant as Liverpool
-1

RobsonWark added 22:23 - Dec 27
Tonight showed how much we miss our skipper. Morsy covers every blade of grass and is always available for a pass and will make a tackle.

Wolfenden unsurprisingly completely missed the cross for the goal and Muric was never going to make the save as it was not straight at him.

Szmodics is not good enough for the Premier League. He had two great chances to score. Completely missed the ball when he should have stuck it in the back of the net in the first minute and should have had a shot at goal in the first minute of the second half but took the ball further on and wide of the goal so all he could do was pass it.

Omari was not man enough to handle the constant boos he got from the Arsenal fans.

Al-Hamadi looks like an unfit old man whenever he is on the pitch.




-20

EssexTractor added 22:23 - Dec 27
First half ITFc starstruck
Second half a semblance of a comeback
Delap had no support from midfield and when he scrapped for it but could not take on Arsenals superb centre backs.
Rarely do I agree with Shearer but his advice of “ shoot” was one to sympathise with.

Although in latter stages both Taylor and Broadhead look to be in serious contention for selection
And if Burgess fithe must be recalled
But seriously this was Arsenal years of skill and experience, however not as rampant as Liverpool
-2

EssexTractor added 22:23 - Dec 27
First half ITFc starstruck
Second half a semblance of a comeback
Delap had no support from midfield and when he scrapped for it but could not take on Arsenals superb centre backs.
Rarely do I agree with Shearer but his advice of “ shoot” was one to sympathise with.

Although in latter stages both Taylor and Broadhead look to be in serious contention for selection
And if Burgess fithe must be recalled
But seriously this was Arsenal years of skill and experience, however not as rampant as Liverpool
3

Lightningboy added 22:23 - Dec 27
Yaaaaaay,we only let in 1 and defended well & all that...But I just don't get what we're trying (or failing) to do going forward...the players and the manager seem to have hit a mental block..get some crosses in,have a shot,anything rather than this negative-rut that we've dragged ourselves into.

What was the point in promotion if we're just going to lie down and die.

Get stuck in..fight..have a go or you will all regret it come May (or sooner).
12

AYACCA added 22:24 - Dec 27
We have to start creating chances, crossing is a start. Move the ball quicker, don't slow it then turn around and pass back to Muric
12

EssexTractor added 22:25 - Dec 27
Apologies for replication
8

Bert added 22:25 - Dec 27
A very good defensive performance just a pity that we rarely got into their box.
14

Broadbent23 added 22:26 - Dec 27
Brave attempt to calm the storm against Arsenal. Proud we kept the score to 1-0 throughout to give us a chance of a draw. We are still learning to compete with these strong sides. KMc will be pleased with the performance and we go again against Chelsea. The defence did well not to concede an Arsenal set play. COYB . Believe in miracles.
11

legoman added 22:26 - Dec 27
Enjoyed that, hope we stick to this system.
8

TimmyH added 22:28 - Dec 27
I'd chuck all our midfielders on (Morsy/Cajuste/Phillips) against Chelsea and see how we get on...obviously I don't think McK will play 5 at the back again against Chelsea, Hutch although okay breaking out in space is okay his passing and decision making isn't.
9

James_B added 22:31 - Dec 27
I thought McKenna got the team selection right tonight. However, our attacking players are lacking coordination. We need the same levels of understanding between players that we had in the previous two years (that Chaplin/Burns understanding) to create chances.
12

gkroon89 added 22:36 - Dec 27
Well defended and stuck to it well.

Thought it was a good performance.

Thought Cajuste was our best player today. Wolfenden did well defensively and travelled with the ball well on a couple of occasions.

Omari seems to have gone back to how he started last season which is strange. Gave the ball away a number of times and chose the wrong pass unfortunately.

Glad we changed formation and would happily see the same starting 11 start against Chelsea.

Well done today lads - may have lost, but the result was a lot better than any of us may have predicted.
12

Jcb2007 added 22:42 - Dec 27
Dear Arsenal, please can we have more of the ball when you visit Portman Road in the return fixture. I expected a heavier defeat, so close to cutting that cross out for the goal. Id rather Delap stayed on and need to see Broadhead given more minutes. Bring on Chelsea.
2

KMcBlue added 22:42 - Dec 27
Sorry, but Hutchinson made wrong choice after wrong choice and Szmodics has missed so many this season- not Prem standard
6

Pilgrimblue added 22:42 - Dec 27
Ok so did well to hold score to 1-0 but why didnt we have some shots in last few minutes. Confidence seems to have drained, can’t score if we don’t have a go.
11

RobsonWark added 22:45 - Dec 27
Anyone who says that McKenna got the team selection right tonight when he picked Muric as our goalkeeper is having a laugh. The goal that Jesus was ruled offside - how the heck did he score from that angle about 6 inches from the by-line and still slid it past past Muric who didn't have a clue.

BRING BACK WALTON. WE WANT WALTON.
-20

blueboy1981 added 22:49 - Dec 27
Were our players forbidden to put Balls into the Box, or Shoot ?- great credit to the defence tonight - but no Plan B again…… !!
In the last 10 -15 mins’ we had enough to suggest a point was a possibility.
We continue to try and play Prem’ style football without the individual or collective Prem’ quality.
Better 2nd half for sure - but again, not enough.
Lets ditch this compulsory playing out from the back, square, and backward passing as if cast in stone - sometimes it has to change to be productive - but players seem scared to do otherwise.
Our ‘opportunity’ to stay is progressively drifting away, and who knows what that will mean for the Club …. ??
Don’t take anything for granted ….. !!!
0

KMcBlue added 22:51 - Dec 27
I hope Chaplin plays against Chelsea. We open teams up and connect much better when he is on the pitch. Sees passes better than many of our other players.
9

Cakeman added 22:51 - Dec 27
Not seen us play in that style since the McCarthy days. Game plan appeared to be damage limitation in the first half followed by trying to hit Arsenal on the break in the second. That is not our strengths.
Also Delap is just being completely isolated. He has no support at all and that is no doubt the reason he hasn’t scored for Seven games. That’s not his fault but we need some different options very soon if we are going to give ourselves a chance of staying up.
-6

churchmans added 22:51 - Dec 27
Phillips should play every game! He will get better and better
15


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