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

Facefacts added 22:58 - Dec 27 We didn't deserve anything from this game, it was purely damage limitation after Newcastle. Didn't teach us anything apart from this league gives us nothing - up against 13/14 men as usual. Yes Arsenal have quality, but we needed not to concede a lot of goals - so that was ok. Johnson terrible defending for the goal - but we defended our goal well apart from this. they put two players on Hutch second half so he couldn't get crosses in. Davis is in Jack Clarke's space on the wing - Jack Clarke simply can't play anywhere else. Davis and Greaves elbowed in the face and neck - nothing given. Accidental touch on Odegaard's face by Jack Clarke when he left him for dead - Odegaard stays down until the ref brings the game back for a head injury - pathetic. Saliba fouled Delap on the breakaway - no yellow - ref oblivious unless Arsenal wanted a foul themselves. Hutch brought down twice, once in the penalty area, but got handball given against him both times. The Arsenal manager was camped on the touchline telling the ref what fouls to give - like Guardiola - because the rules on staying in the technical area don't apply to them - was told once by the 4th official (didn't see, but did Kieran McKenna ask him to?) - but was soon back running the line again. I don't think we want the results enough - it's not a matter of life or death whether we stay up - and it shows.

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Gforce added 23:00 - Dec 27 The window can't come quick enough,sadly it might be too late by the time the new guys settle in.
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VanDusen added 23:02 - Dec 27 Finally - we have a plan B. Perhaps if we'd defended some of our leads with that three man defence we'd have picked up a dew more points. Anyway - plenty of positives to take out of that performance if not the result. Hopefully we can be a bit more flexible and pragmatic over the rest of the season with Tuanzebe and Hirst back and hopefully an Ogbene replacement - and maybe we'll have half a chance if we are still in touching distance by the end of Jan....

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howsey51 added 23:12 - Dec 27 Credit where credit is due I thought muric had a decent game. Omari is one of the few who can bring the ball through the midfield and run at people but he has had a few poor games lately. He is young and probably needs to go back to being an impact sub for a break. Leif has not been on form lately, his touch seemed poor today and hence our left sided crosses have dropped off. burns seems to be the other player who aims for the byline and gets balls in which we otherwise didn’t do today although he is realistically a good championship player. Ho hum, dull spectacle but we move on and certainly not a disaster.

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 23:13 - Dec 27 Robson Wark bore off . Tedious buffoon.
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DerryfromBury added 23:23 - Dec 27 It could have been a lot worse with an embarrassing score line, as it was it turned out, it was just the opposite. Thought the guys did well when under the cosh for the first 40 mins, then grew into the game and where far from embarrassed at the end. Whilst it pains me to say it, tended to agree with Shearer, we should have at least put a couple of balls in their box, look what happened the only time we did when Broady nearly got lucky. Onwards and upwards, bring on Chelsea.

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SuperTabby added 23:24 - Dec 27 Some positives to take from the game in terms of our defending, Arsenal really struggled to break us down at times. Was really impressed with Woolfy overall considering he hasn’t really played this season. I wonder if in games (like Bournemouth) if we couldn’t switch to that formation going into the last 10 minutes. Broadhead also looked good again off the bench, would like to see him start against Chelsea. Cajuste looked really good again today. The big disappointment was that we just didn’t look to be a bit braver in the final third, we needed to take a man on, get the ball into the box, move it a bit quicker. Our attackers weren’t up to much tonight, Delap was a bit off with his first touch, Szmodics struggled, Hutchinson was awful. Losing 1-0 at The Emirates isn’t the end of the world, hopefully we can continue to defend like that, but find a way of creating more the other end.

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algarvefan added 23:26 - Dec 27 I thought after the result against Newcastle, the lads did us proud tonight at Arsenal. Credit to the boss for the tactics and although never a game we were going to win, we made it a real fight to the bitter end and could even have snatched a draw. I'm not sure what some fans expect of us, Arsenal are a top top side, same again Monday but for me Broadhead must start. Onwards and upwards Town.

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RobsonWark added 23:29 - Dec 27 Dozzells_Bobblehat instead of being abusive tell me what you disagree about my comments.
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ImAbeliever added 23:38 - Dec 27 Thought our goalie was decent.
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 23:58 - Dec 27 RobsonWark. - everything! Morsy is great but Phillips and Cajuste did well. As did Muric and Woolf. All you do is post negative sh*t . You're boring cos u constantly go on about Walton even when Muric does nothing wrong . It's tedious .
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OliveR16 added 00:03 - Dec 28 Oh dear. As threatening as the Luxembourg Navy.
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Gforce added 00:05 - Dec 28 I don't think Broadhead will start anytime soon,I've heard a strong rumour he's on his way back to Sunderland.
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blues1 added 00:06 - Dec 28 Robsonwark. Again talking total bs. Muric is 3rd in the pl for saves made. Yes, he's cost us 5 goals in the 17 games he's played. And thst isctoo many of course. But ur calling for Walton to play,who in 2 games lastcseason was at fault for 4 of the 5 goals conceded. Glad ur not the manager.
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armchaircritic59 added 00:44 - Dec 28 I agree with much that's been said on here. Thought the three at the back very largely did their jobs manfully, KP stuck to his task, Cajuste again glimpses of class. Delap has no chance isolated against two high class international defenders. I try not to criticise much, but it looks to me like OM might be suffering a bit from a lack of confidence, being often afraid to take anyone on, he's a young man still learning, don't want to be too harsh. Not the first time lately Broadhead has looked the best forward player when he's come on, time for a start I think. Very frustrated when we did have some momentum late on and seemed to be afraid to put the ball in the box. All in all, not a disaster given the opposition, even if Arsenal were below their best, but difficult to see where goals are coming from unless we play more on the front foot and risk more exposure at the back. Interesting puzzle for KM to solve and not too much time to solve it. January window might be interesting.

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shakytown added 00:56 - Dec 28 I don't know why people think we can compete at this level after 1 transfer window in the PL. These teams are built up over years of planning and recruitment by clubs with vast finances. Get behind the boys and enjoy the ride as we might not be here again for a long time. Robson Wark Get over it WE DO NOT ALL WANT WALTON and slagging players off constantly is just childish and really pathetic. Time to grow up fool.

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ThaiBlue added 06:28 - Dec 28 Think omari needs the bench for a game or 2.start broadhead please and possibly Chaplin.did not think we would get anything today so not over concerned.lets have a go at Chelsea like fulham did we might just surprise them
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:43 - Dec 28 A brave effort from the lads last night. As several have pointed out, we were playing one of the top teams in England, if not in Europe, so expectations must be limited. I'd like to see us adopt this "batten down the hatches" approach in most of our games as I think it might get us the odd points here and there against lesser teams than Arsenal. Sadly, I think Chelski will be harder. Arse play a tippy-tappy, Barcelonaesque kind of game, whereas Chelski will be very fast and direct, which I think we will find harder to deal with. But let's give the boys our loudest support on Monday. COYB!

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martin587 added 07:01 - Dec 28 Defending was excellent apart from the soft goal conceded.We need to use this system now to get some points on the board.We restricted Arsenal to only a few serious shots and the keeper did ok.Shame in the second half we didn’t take the game to them as I felt at times Arsenal we’re running out of ideas and we’re sitting back a bit. I would like to see both Broadhead and Chaplin start Monday as they have a great understanding.Omari looks a bit tired and could do with a rest although I’m sure he will relish mondays game.We must get a result from this match so come on lads you can do it.

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Dissboyitfc added 07:25 - Dec 28 Yes great defensive display in the main, just thought we lacked confidence/quality in the final third. Omari needs a rest as does smopdizcs time for chaplin and Broadhead to start together. Not Murics biggest fan, and i have suggested that walton has a game, not nescasarily because i believe Walton is better but more to give Muric a rest and a reset. However i cant believe that someone has a go at him for a goal that never was, lets all have our opinions and our favourites, but credit where its due, he did ok and doesnt need slating for the sake of it, no player should, every player is giving their all and at times some fall short of whats needed, maybe a confidence thing or ability thing or both! Thought Phillips did ok too, and as for saying Morsey would have made a differnce, crap statement, we were short all over the pitch! Lets see what the window brings!

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dirtydingusmagee added 07:51 - Dec 28 Blueboy i often have marked you down,but on this occasion i didnt mean to , sorry
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dirtydingusmagee added 08:37 - Dec 28 Well the result was expected but damage limited so that is a plus.Defending was obviously the plan but we were no threat at all.We desperatey need to bring in Prem.quality players imo. Most of us wanted us to sign Omari, and Sammy both of whom were very good in Championship but are not doing it in Prem except in short spells imo No disrespect to them but we need better or more from them. Hope we can sign someone to up our game as we are just treading water and praying the other three teams get worse results than us ..WE need to fight our cormer Coyb N

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Linkboy13 added 08:40 - Dec 28 This was always going to be a damage limitation exercise against a team that are stronger in every department than us. Got the usual comments of why is he playing he should be playing . It's strange when players are not in the team they all of a sudden become good. Don't think the January transfer window is going to make much difference attracting players of any quality to come here is going to be very difficult knowing that we are almost certainly down loads maybe. Keiran McKenna is a great manager but there's a saying that i can't stand and that is you can't polish a turd. Im afraid the player recruitment in the summer has been poor and this has to be improved if we get another chance in the Premier league.

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Linkboy13 added 08:42 - Dec 28 Sorry loans maybe
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dirtydingusmagee added 09:36 - Dec 28 i wasnt one if those expecting us to blaze a trail in prem , survival would be enough, but that wont be easy, we do need to be more of a threat to opposing teams.,AND we need to put away more of the limited chances we get , Jan window rarely produces much, think we have missed a trick in the summer , but cant turn back the clock .
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