Town defender Luke Woolfenden felt the Blues limited Arsenal to very little following the 1-0 defeat to the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal dominated possession and had control of the contest but only produced 13 shots for their efforts, albeit Kai Havertz’s 23rd-minute goal proved to be enough for all three points.

Despite their respectable defensive display, Town fell to their fifth defeat in the last six matches and remain inside the relegation zone and three points from safety after their final away match of the calendar year.

But Woolfenden was pleased with how the Blues were able to stay in the game at 1-0 and not let the game get away from them as it did against Newcastle United at Portman Road last Saturday, despite the lack of attacking threat that saw them fail to register a single shot on target.

“It was a tough game,” he said. “One that we felt we were in the game for the majority of it. We had a good spell towards the end going for an equaliser.

“Again, we probably just let ourselves down in the moment and need to produce more when we have the ball and have more of an attacking threat.

“We’re always disappointed when we do concede. They’re a top team with top players and we limited them to not many chances.

“We obviously didn’t create much ourselves but we limited them to one or two – the goal being one and Gabriel’s header being the other. We always give ourselves a chance when you defend like that.

“We’ve got 11 players who are working so hard to keep the ball out of our net and keep the ball high up the pitch. It’s difficult to then regain that composure, we done it well with 20 minutes left but it probably took us too long to get to that stage.

“But the last 20 minutes is a positive – we kept the ball well and sustained attacks which is what we were looking to do.”

Asked whether the game went as he expected, Woolfenden added: “I think so. We knew they would do a lot of corner runs and do a lot from set pieces. To be fair it is what we planned for and I think we dealt with their set pieces quite well.

“They had the free header with Gabriel, but apart from that they didn’t really get much joy from set pieces. That was a good sign for us.”

Woolfenden was returning to the team for his first appearance in more than two months having not started any of the previous nine league matches.

Along with Jacob Greaves, the academy graduate was drafted in as part of a back three that sat deep in an attempt to give away fewer chances than in recent weeks.

“It’s always like that when you bring in new players and spend money on players,” the 25-year-old said. “They’re always going to get a slot in the team. It was just about waiting for the time and now it’s come around.

“I was pleased with my performance, I think the boss is pleased with my performance in there. We’ll see what happens next.

“The first three games of the season I think I played very well. The Fulham game I thought I was the best player on the pitch, so to come out after that was difficult.

“But the boss is good with stuff like that and he talks to you all the time. It’s just something you’ve got to swallow and see how it goes.

“It’s probably one of our strongest units in terms of fighting for positions. We’ve been in the majority of the games because we’ve not given up many chances. I know we defend as a whole team but a massive part of that is being in central defence.”

Woolfenden was also asked about Kalvin Phillips, another man returning to the team after an absence of his own since starting the Leicester City game in which he was sent off having subsequently suffered an ankle injury.

“Kalvin’s obviously a great player and has had a great career,” Woolfenden said of the Manchester City loanee. “He’s probably not played as much as he wanted to since he’s come here but you can see the quality that he’s got.

“He’s a great lad and it’s so important for us that he gets minutes under his belt. He grew into the game and was impressive towards the end.

“When your luck is like that it is going against you. I don’t think the red card was a red card at all, he was playing really well at that time and was probably one of our standout performers.

“It does take a while to get back into your rhythm when you have an injury and get suspended for something you shouldn’t have done. It’s important for us now that he stays fit and becomes a massive part of the team.

“Everyone can see his class. He goes to away grounds and the fans are on him because they know he’s class and can dictate a game and they’re trying to rattle him. That’s how you know he’s a good player.”

With one more match before the halfway stage of the season, the Blues remain inside the bottom three but are within touching distance from safety.

The final match of 2024 is a home game against title-chasing Chelsea at Portman Road on Monday night, another tough-looking assignment in what is a difficult month of fixtures for Kieran McKenna’s side.

On the overall picture, Woolfenden said: “We can be proud that we’ve been in every game and proud of the work-rate. It’s just that bit of feeling in the boys that we can push on and produce a bit more, especially in terms of attacking threats and sustaining attacks.

“We’re not a group that lacks belief anyway. We work hard every game and have been in every game this season, apart from the Newcastle one last week which we worked to rectify tonight.

“Performance-wise, it was okay and we’re looking to go again against Chelsea. It’s a step in the right direction, not a massive one but a little step.”

Photo: Matchday Images

rodthergasman added 11:04 - Dec 28 We have come a long way in a short space of time, even if we do go down we are in a good position to regroup and come back stronger.Its not all over yet we are getting stronger all the time,dont forget most of our players have never playe at this level before.I for one am not going to get on to the manager or the players, as given time it will come good. Up the town, true fans will get behind the boys through good times and bad.

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Magic8 added 11:16 - Dec 28 Well said rodthegasman...too many on here with short memories...support your club support the players honoured to wear that shirt...they need us right now ...so be there for them..everyone of us
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flykickingbybgunn added 11:35 - Dec 28 Could not agree more. I am proud of the Club, the manager, the team and supporters. Each one a vital cog in the success of the whole.
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howsey51 added 11:46 - Dec 28 Agreed as well rodthegasman. The infrastructure is in place and better for being in the top flight. It won’t be like 2002 with the perfect storm of bad contributing factors. We will obviously have to sell but I can see good returns on our young promising investments and the board I think will have thought about the worst case scenario. At least if we do go down we get a break from VAR :-)

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Tractorboy58 added 12:27 - Dec 28 Having 3 centre backs and a pair of wing backs really suits us and gives us the best chance of getting some decent results. I actually think Harry Clark with his pace and power would be OK in the right wing back position
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Beattiesballbag added 12:49 - Dec 28 Not a single shot on target ?, Broadhead had a shot on target that was deflected for a corner, we might of had a few more if he was given some more minutes, also managed to carry the ball past a couple of players in the short time he was on, something players who keep starting don't seem able to do.
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ITFC_1994 added 13:15 - Dec 28 Spot on rodyhegrassman. I get that teams shouldn't be exempt from criticism, but if ever there was a team and manager that should be its this one- for what they have achieved over past 2.5 seasons, the effort they put in and the way they apply themselves week in, week out. So much criticism about the defence before the game and wrist put in a great defensive performance!! Not many teams will defend better then that at the Emirates this season- so now its the attack that is getting all the criticism... It was frustrating that we weren't getting the ball in the box at the end, but were AAH, Clarke or Broady really going to win headers against Gabriel and Saliba?? We were trying to be a bit cuter and it just didn't pay off! If we play like that against Chelsea, who are less dominant at the back, I think we will get a result on Monday. Big second half of the season ahead and I believe we can stay up. If we dont, then I will just enjoy watching this fantastic group of players apply themselves week in week out and we go again next season!! COYB.

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Stato added 13:16 - Dec 28 Surprised anyone can see any positives in a game of football where your team doesn't register a single shot on target. Its football people not snooker. That said I support the move to a back 5 as Leif is getting caught out of position way too often and 5 at the back means his amazing attacking runs can be covered. I only hope that next time we play 5 at the back we see one of the CBs stepping into midfield when we are in possession.

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Jugsy added 13:44 - Dec 28 Stato by name, Stato by nature. The gulf in quality is vast, stop looking at the numbers and look at what we’re trying to do with this group on the pitch. To frustrate a team like Arsenal, like we did, is a testament to the hard work going on to develop this group.
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TimmyH added 14:39 - Dec 28 It's only a 'step in the right direction' if we then go onto play a team lower down in the league and win...how many games have we set up like this with 5 at the back (maybe other than Man City)? not a lot if at all, we'll try to play more expansive in the games coming up probably with the same results. So saying it's a step in the right direction is pointless...
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churchmans added 16:51 - Dec 28 Wolfy is right! Solid defensively but lightweight in attack! Defo a right step in direction
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churchmans added 16:52 - Dec 28 TimmyH first time we played a back 5
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Foreverdon_Blue added 17:27 - Dec 28 Most certainly a step in the right direction and we are still in the mix . COYB!!
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Stato added 17:35 - Dec 28 @jugsy what numbers do you imagine i am relying on ? Certainly no numbers in my post. Anyway you keep cheering at 1 nil defeats, with no shots on target that leave us in the bottom 3 and I'll continue to discuss with the grown ups how and where improvements might be made. At least you have some numbers from me now lol
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Linkboy13 added 19:07 - Dec 28 You can sugar coat it as much as you like this season has been a nightmare no wins at home and it's nearly 2025 . Let's hope lessons have been learnt especially in the recruitment of players are they physically up to Premier league football. We vastly overpaid on players from the championship and won't be able to get this back if we drop into the championship. We need scouts in Europe, South America and Africa most teams if not all have in the Premier league we are living in the past im afraid.

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Gazelle added 09:33 - Dec 29 Linkboy how much do you expect to pay for a side stashed full of overseas players, some of the teams in this league would cost a £billion to replace. We’ve just had a fantastic couple of years culminating in seeing some of the best players in the world at PR and I for one have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We knew we’d find it tough but now is the time to get behind the team and even more so the manager.

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mathiemagic added 09:02 - Dec 30 It might have been a step in the right direction had Wolfy elected to head that cross away rather than swing an aimless leg at it !
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shakytown added 09:37 - Dec 30 Linkboy you are right about the scouting needs but just think about the fact we have been out of the prem for 20 years. It takes time to find these people who are good enough and then like good players you have to get them to agree to work for you. Their choice not ours most of the time and like players getting the wrong scout is just as bad.
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