Leandro Trossard netted twice and Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri once each as Arsenal comfortably beat 10-man Town 4-0 at Portman Road to inflict the Blues’ seventh successive home loss - a new club record - and move relegation a step nearer to being confirmed. There was really only one side in it throughout with Trossard giving the Gunners the lead on 14, before Martinelli added the second in the 18th minute, prior to Leif Davis being shown a straight red card for catching Bukayo Saka high up the back of his calf, then in the second half Trossard added a third on 69 and sub Nwaneri a fourth with two minutes left on the clock.

Town made one change from the team which drew 2-2 at Chelsea last week with Jacob Greaves coming in for Cameron Burgess at the centre of the defence.

The Australian international dropped to a bench which also included Ben Godfrey, in the squad for the first time since the Tottenham game two months ago.

George Hirst kept his place as the number nine with Liam Delap, who suffered a rib injury against Wolves a fortnight ago, again a sub.

On the bench for the first time was left-back Somto Boniface, the 19-year-old having joined the Blues from Chelsea in January and having been impressive in the U21s in recent weeks, scoring in his last two matches.

Conor Townsend and Nathan Broadhead were both absent from the 20-man squad, while Omari Hutchinson and Kalvin Phillips also remain unavailable.

Arsenal made three changes from the team which completed a 5-1 on-aggregate Champions League victory over Real Madrid in midweek with Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Trossard coming in for Jurrien Timber, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Thomas Partey, who were all on the bench. Saka started in the Premier League for the first time since December.

Unsurprisingly, the Gunners dominated possession from the off, but in the fifth minute, Jens Cajuste won the ball just outside the Town area and drove forward but the Sweden international’s ball for Hirst to chase was too far in front of the Blues striker.

Arsenal threatened for the first time moments later, Saka getting round the back of Davis on the right of the box and cutting inside to Trossard but Axel Tuanzebe did very well to get across to block.

On nine, Julio Enciso cut in from the left and hit a shot which smashed against White with Town claims for handball - mainly from the fans - rightly ignored by referee Chris Kavanagh.

On 14, Enciso dispossessed Declan Rice not far outside the box then took the ball forward to the edge of the area before failing to find Hirst with a pass.

And from that attack breaking down, Arsenal counter-attacked and took the lead. Saka was fed on the right by skipper Martin Odegaard and the England international cut the ball inside. Odegaard failed to get a significant touch but it ran to Trossard on the penalty spot and, despite a Sam Morsy challenge putting him on the floor, the Belgian international was able to shoot through Dara O’Shea’s legs and past Alex Palmer to his right.

Goalscorer Trossard blazed over on 18, then on 22 Jack Clarke looped a cross-shot well over after a sharp Town break down the right, Cajuste having instigated the move.

But play quickly moved back to the other end, Tuanzebe blocking from Martinelli for the first of two corners. From the second, Mikel Merino headed wide at close range at the far post having escaped Tuanzebe perhaps having more of an eye on not colliding with the woodwork than directing the ball into the net.

However, the Gunners didn’t have to wait too long for their second. In the 29th minute, Saka again cut back from the right, Merino flicked it towards the back post with the inside of his right heel and Martinelli tapped home.

Three minutes later, Town’s afternoon got even worse when Davis was shown a straight red card, the first of his career.

The left-back stabbed a boot at the back of Saka’s heel with the forward’s back to him just over halfway. Saka leapt dramatically into the air and referee Kavanagh showed little hesitation in dismissing the former Leeds United man.

VAR took a look at it before confirming the decision, Davis having caught Saka well up the back of his leg with his studs with the ball well in front of the Arsenal man, who was OK to continue after treatment.

The Blues immediately made a change, bringing Burgess on for Clarke and moving Greaves to left-back.

The game continued in much the same vein as before the red card and on 37 Saka, booed by the Town support, cut in from the right and shot across the face and wide.

Saka, whether deservedly or otherwise, Portman Road’s pantomime villain, missed another good opportunity a minute later, shooting wide with only Palmer to beat, much to the delight of the North Stand.

Three minutes before the break, Saka hit a low shot from a tight angle on the right which Palmer claimed low.

Moments later, Saka was at the centre of things again, sweeping a low Trossard cross from the right wide, catching O’Shea with his studs with the follow through, causing the North Stand to ambitiously call for a red card.

On 45, referee Kavanagh awarding Town only their second free-kick of the half, Hirst having been fouled by Jakub Kiwior on halfway, received the biggest cheer at that point, the official having been somewhat reluctant to give decisions in the Blues’ favour.

Arsenal maintained the pressure in five additional minutes without seriously threatening to score again before the whistle, Saka receiving more boos as he left the field.

Aside from a couple of early Town counter-attacks, there had only been one side in it from the start and Arsenal goals seemed only a matter of time, the Blues having been caught committing players forward but still with enough men back to have defended the break better.

It was difficult seeing the Blues come back from 2-0 down with 11 men, let alone 10, Davis making a frustrated and rash stab for a ball which wasn’t there to be won and catching Saka well up the back of his leg.

Town, with a long half ahead of them, swapped Enciso for Jack Taylor ahead of the restart with the Blues playing a 5-3-1 system.

The second half began as the first had ended, Odegaard hitting a shot from a tight angle on the left which Palmer bundled behind for another flag-kick with the Gunners pinning the Blues back in their penalty area.

Town eventually dug their way out of their own final third and on 53 created an opportunity, Ben Johnson crossing low to Hirst with his back to goal just inside the box but the ball was taken away from the Scotland international as he sought to lay it back to Cajuste.

Three minutes later, Morsy drove forward from inside the Town half and played forward to Hirst on the left, the striker cutting in and hitting a low shot only just past David Raya’s left post.

Arsenal made their first changes of the game moments later in the 57th minute, Saka, who was again booed as he left the field, and Merino making way for Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The Gunners continued to dominate and prod and probe for a third, although without too much urgency, the three Town centre-halves getting their heads to crosses and Palmer claiming everything which came his way.

On 65, Palmer took a Blues free-kick from just inside his own half and found O’Shea to the left of the box, the Irish international centre-half nodding down to Taylor, whose effort was blocked.

Three minutes later, a Martinelli shot from the left of the area was deflected wide for the first of two corners. From the second, the ball was played to Martinelli on the edge of the box but his strike was blocked with Arsenal subsequently winning a third corner on the left from which they added their third goal.

Town, who up to that point had defended assiduously since the break, were caught asleep as the ball was played to Rice, who moved it on to Trossard, who had been left completely on his own and fired low across Palmer and into the corner of the net.

In the 73rd minute, Arsenal swapped Martinelli and Rice for Raheem Sterling and Kieran Tierney.

The Blues made two further changes in the 82nd minute with Hirst and Cajuste, Town’s best two performers on the day, making way for Delap and Massimo Luongo. Two minutes later, Arsenal swapped Trossard for Nathan Butler-Oyedeji.

On 87, Oleksandr Zinchenko hit a free-kick into the wall, then Odegaard hit the post with an effort from the right of the box.

Palmer then made a sharp save, tipping a first-time effort from sub Butler-Oyedeji over the bar but a fourth Arsenal goal came following the resultant corner.

Odegaard played a pass to Nwaneri in space on the right of the area and the sub cut in and hit a shot which deflected off both O’Shea and Burgess and into the net.

As the fourth official indicated four additional minutes, Town swapped Morsy for Conor Chaplin.

Zinchenko shot narrowly over, then Taylor scraped an effort from distance well wide before referee Kavanagh ended a game Town had never looked like taking anything from.

Davis’s red card had made life even tougher, but at 2-0 down taking anything from the game had already looked a hopeless task against a very composed Arsenal side which looked a level above the Chelsea team the Blues matched a week ago.

The challenge which led to Davis’s dismissal - the left-back will now miss three games including next week's trip to Newcastle, the club he supports - probably wouldn’t have led to a card a decade or so ago but it was high up the back of Saka’s leg with his studs catching the Arsenal man and it was difficult to argue against it.

In the second half, the Blues defended resolutely until being caught cold at the corner which led to the third goal with the fourth coming via a similar route.

Town have now lost seven in a row for the first time at home in their history and relegation will be confirmed next week at Newcastle unless the Blues win at St James’ Park and West Ham lose at Brighton.

Town: Palmer, Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis, Morsy (c) (Chaplin 90), Cajuste (Luongo 82), Johnson, Enciso (Taylor 46), Clarke (Burgess 35), Hirst (Delap 82). Unused: Walton, Woolfenden, Godfrey, Boniface, Chaplin.

Arsenal: Raya, Saliba, White, Saka (Nwaneri 55), Odegaard (c), Martinelli (Sterling 73), Kiwior, Zinchenko, Trossard (Butler-Oyedeji 84), Merino (Lewis-Skelly 55), Rice (Tierney 73). Unused: Neto, Partey, Timber, Henry-Francis. Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire). VAR: Darren England. Att: 29,549 (Arsenal: 2,955).

Photo: Matchday Images

ThaiBlue added 21:39 - Apr 20 Pony today no effort or ideas completely out of our depth players on the beach already sad for the fans not been much entertainment at Portman road for a while, will be glad when it's all over.
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poet added 21:59 - Apr 20 We have reached the point in our season where the separation of real fans from those who have no staying power, and run for cover when real support is needed, show their turncoat faces. McKenna has achieved more than most managers in the history of football management, and he’s only just started. How short the memories are of the fickle few. As for the apparent suggestion that we should employ the boring feckless ‘one trick pony’ Sean Dyche as our manager, well all I can say is, watching rain drops race each other down the window pane, would be far more entertaining. Why do you think Everton dispensed of his services!

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Leejames99 added 22:01 - Apr 20 @tractorboy1985 Another pointless comment, that shot should never of been taken, loads keepers been beaten by long range shots it's football. I dont care for down marks I don't even look because it's the same disillusioned supporters, who don't want success, they will not blame anything on anyone from league 1 or Mckenna and blame everything on anything as long as its not them, it's pathetic, I've never heard of a club with fans who do not want success, want to keep the same manager and players at any cost and any new players that dare to be signed are chastised before they get there, this forum is more of a cult now. If any fans give opinions that says anything other than Mckenna is God, Hirst brilliant, Muric and new signings rubbish then they are pounced on by fans who are just typical obsessive fans. Fans who will find every excuse in the book. The worst ones on here aside the weird ones like Robsonwark, is the ones who call players by these nicknames like they ate mates with them like Chappers and Burnsy and Tayls and Broady and bloody Walts it's pathetic, some town fans always been deluded like this calling Naylor Bam Bam and Benty and Warky, Milts it's ridiculous. Is there a section you all sit in, just clapping at anything, would make a brilliant sitcom 'The Bewildered' In what world do you stargazers live that if someone does not agree with your opinion then they support a different team or talk rubbish. Not one of you ever say or give reason to explain to us fans how you think and believe that Keiron Mckenna who overseen the sacking of 3 Man Utd managers with his coaching, and now got the worst record in Ipswich Town history is going to ever take Ipswich Town back to the Premier League, let alone stay in Championship with league 1 peanut players and some Championship/Prem rejects and with no tactics or idea outside his own agenda? Justify how you think Davis and Hirst and Morsy and Burns and Taylor are prem standard. How you think Mckenna is going to bounce back to Prem with the very players who got us relegated. How he will justify his signings but never playing them Which injured players would of kept us up How Palmer had he been goal kept us up considering we conceded at least to a game nearly 3. How you think a 5 or 6 goal a season striker is going to fire the goals. Not one person sets out a case, aside repeating Mckennas drivel about journeys or fine margins, you tell us mortals who know nothing what's Mckenna and the Morsy Mob plan to storm the Championship and bounce back Got the mouth to be abusive so justify why, ...you can't because facts and stats don't lie but at least give it a go Oh and by the way it doesn't matter if you been on this forum 5 years or 5 mins if you are an Ipswich Town fan then it's for discussion and debate, not your way or the highway, don't be worried by down marks same people 'tge superfans' it's their Ipswich Town

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TimmyH added 22:11 - Apr 20 Saw Leicester play Liverpool today and they certainly put a better more organised display together than what we did...
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RobsonWark added 22:16 - Apr 20 LeeJames you are just p'off because Muric is not getting a game. It took a while but the manager finally realised, after way too many games in goal, that he was giving away goals and losing us matches every time. Get over the fact that Muric will never pay for us again and will be given away (not sold because no one would want to buy him) in the Summer.
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RobsonWark added 22:27 - Apr 20 Got to say that todays defeat was down to Davis again. Both the first 2 goals came from the left side again when he was nowhere near defending at left back. Then he gets sent off again this season and makes it impossible for a comeback today. His crossing of the ball this season has been very poor, his corners are pathetic - he never gets it past the first man on the near post and his defending is non-existent.

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jon_talbot56 added 22:30 - Apr 20 How many of those who think there is not a massive gap between the Prem and Championship were at Coventry where we won easily? And how many of those were there last season when we won but only just? No one likes losing but we have come a very long way in a short time and the club is in a much stronger position than when we came up from League One. I cannot see any of the current Championship promotion hopefuls surviving next season. And l would much rather be in our situation than Foxes or Saints.

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Leejames99 added 22:35 - Apr 20 @robsonwark seriously, I don't want to be rude in case you have issues, i cant keep outlaying stats on Muric for you, aside 3 drubbings of 4 goal losses (not Brentford) all our games were 0-0, 1-1, 2-1 certainly not 4 goals a game, they have conceeded more than double since Jan in same amount of games. Muric will be here next season we arent going to let an 8 million pound, international, Man City academy, Championship title winning team of the year keeper go before a Brighton reject. For the same mistakes as 4 other Prem keepers and 1 more than many others. Still in top 20 mosy saves this season, dont see the other two in there, so who you blaming if not Mckenna, not Davis, who can it be @poet first of a dont be so rude to other supporters of Ipswich Town because their opinion doesn't match yours. If your an anorak fan whobwants to keep Mckenna forever and Morsy and Co that's up to you. And the rest of the nonsense re Sean Dyche one trick football, your having a laugh, if any team in the Prem only plays one way its Town, the easiestvteam to play against. I forget which games did we turn up in different formation. Nonsense. We have just supported Mckenna through bad times every single home game of bad times bar 1. History making is right, might have got lower league promotions but also has stat for worst manager at home in clubs history,, no doubt about that and not by small margin by a hugevone. You don't have any right to dictate how people look at Ipswich Town. Those who go to away games don't make them better supporters just means they got more time on their hands. I might 100% disagree with the Mckenna mob but I certainly don't say they aren't supporters, there are some duubios ones and very weird ones but I've blocked most them Don't like my opinion please don't read very simple but don't pop on saying your a better fan than the ones who want to see the club progress and get better and think its time for a refresh.

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dusth added 22:49 - Apr 20 Sorry Algy I'm not a stats man but the Premier League is now a different beast from anything we've encountered in other seasons. The home results are crazily bad - my worst moment was being with my daughter right behind the goal in that soaking gale at the AR end and watching those two Bournemouth goals go in in the last five minutes. And it's gone on but I will be massively surprised if the club doesn't continue to grow under this management. I hope to see it.

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Gforce added 23:08 - Apr 20 @@Leejames....For some reason you praise Leicester today,saying they played well,when they've just lost 9 consecutive games at home,without scoring a single goal ,which I believe is an unwanted premier league record. Makes our 7 defeats on the trot,including scoring 2 or 3 look good.
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Leejames99 added 23:09 - Apr 20 @jontalbot We didn't sweep past Coventry, Lamport was fuming after game. We played well because Townsend played not Davis and J Clarke played in their natural positions. Hirst done well that game, Szmodics played. If Town played 4-2-3-1 I don't see why Hirst can't play in a 10 but we would be most prolific next season in a 4-4-2 Without need for many signings Muric/Palmer Tunazabe O'Shea Greaves Townsend Cajuste priority signing Humphries/new mid J Clarke Phillogene Hutchinson 10 Szmodicks 4-2-3-1 Or Hirst and Szmodics up top in a 4-4-2. Hirst is good holding ball but goal tally not good enough but maybe he could do well, look at Chris Wood, similar stature.we could have an amazing team with those sort of players and would have great bench too Szmodics could easy start up top in a 2 Try not to spend much and keep the money for better prem players if go up. I'd rather keep Hirst to play with Szmodics and have a new striker of Championship quality with potential or even get Adebayo from Luton who may thrive with our front line and use money to keep Cajuste, Tunazabe and Burgess. We don't need to many players we are strong everywhere aside a new LB but Bobiface looks good, a new CM or 2 but Humphries is back Right back we have Johnson and ah Clarke Centre we have Woolfenden and prob need sign one if Burgess doesn't stay, that's where an older player might be good. We are good in all positions with couple new signings.

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Leejames99 added 23:14 - Apr 20 @Gforce What's point? They did play well today, season not over yet we still have 2 home games so ours be 9 also. Plus we have to play them so they be okay They made mistake of relying on Vardy sadly not the player he was.
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Gforce added 23:49 - Apr 20 Think Kone from Wycombe would be a useful addition next season, along with a more experienced striker.
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VanDusen added 00:04 - Apr 21 The most interesting thing about the Premier League next season will be whether Leeds can survive or n edot. If the biggest club currently not in the club is unable to break the stranglehold, then I fear it really will be looking like a total closed shop going forward. That's what the almost Orwellian-ly mistitled "Financial Fair Play" was always going tto do - shore up the haves and prevent the have-nots even getting a chance to challenge them...

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armchaircritic59 added 00:48 - Apr 21 Here's what may or may not be just random facts, I'll leave it to you to judge. We have played 10 games this season where we have conceded 3 goals or more. Luke Wolfenden has started just two of them. We have had just 3 clean sheets all season, two in the league. Luke Wolfenden has started in 2 of them, including one of the 2 clean sheets in the league, against Chelsea here, in December. I am not suggesting LW is the answer to most of our defensive ill's, but it's at least food for thought. What do you think?

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renoble added 00:55 - Apr 21 Leejames...I've always enjoyed a counter narrative. I think it's important to have people like you who don't accept the norm. So, when I ask you this question, please don't think that it's loaded. I simply want to know where exactly you think we've gone wrong? There's not too much in your posts (other than pundit type retrospective tropes) that spells out in explicit and nuanced philosophies/ideas how you would have kept us in the league from where we were 3 years ago. I am genuinely interested. How does a team like Ipswich 2022, survive in the Premier league in 2025? Is it indeed possible to replace a division 1 squad with a Premier league squad in 2 years? Where have we gone wrong? I don't expect you to name the players, but who/where do we recruit from, given that most players know that we're likely to be relegated after a season? I've read your posts with interest, but I'm not sure I know how you would have done things better.

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shakytown added 02:09 - Apr 21 just another game that proves the financial gap between the prem and the rest of football is now insurmountable. Arsenal team payroll 161,096,000 Ipswich payroll 29,996,000 5 and a half times the financial power and it showed. Teams just cannot compete with that sort of money coming up from the lower leagues. Is it now a closed shop??????.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:48 - Apr 21 A very disappointing day at PR that really did highlight our failings at this level if anyone still had any doubts, although we were unlucky to come up against a top team at the top of their game. My thoughts in no particular order: Yes, I'm afraid it was a red card, as evidenced by the tv later. The team put in plenty of effort, but just came up short. Anyone who thinks that the Championship is a given next season should think again - Leicester put up a much better performance vs L'pool than our toothless display, although they too may well lose players in the summer. McK is an intelligent manager and will also learn from this season. While our away support is great, our home support is disparate: the vocal section should be concentrated behind the goal in the BR as is traditional in my book. We shouldn't be out-sung by the away support every game. We need to finish the season as positively as possible and then re-group for the next challenge, hopefully with fans not walking out before the end of the game - not a good look. Yes, I shall of course be renewing my season ticket. COYB!

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Papillon64 added 07:49 - Apr 21 I first walked through the turnstiles as a boy in 1974, since that day I could never 'love another', once a blue always a blue....sure, its been a hiccup this season, but where we were 3-5 season ago, financially and structurally, the club has great foundations. I for one will always applaud the team, and if we lose, then we go again the following week. Some on here need to acknowledge maturely the bad times to appreciate the good times, if you cant handle that , stick to the false bubble of FIFA on your playstation.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:59 - Apr 21 PS: Point well made in the ratings section that both Soton and Leicester changed their managers during the season, and it didn't do them much good. In fact, in Leicester's case, things got a lot worse. Continuity is important as long as you keep learning.
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Tedray added 08:20 - Apr 21 One of the problems that the team has had all season is joining up the back with the front.We have four overworked valiant defenders (including Townsend) and a few spritely attackers but never the twain do they meet. Consequently we play like a ballet on retreat.
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Carberry added 09:19 - Apr 21 This is not a place for homophobic innuendo, Robsonwark. Grow up, it's not 1975.
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Rimsy added 09:32 - Apr 21 Can't wait for this sh1tshow of a season to end. Biggest disappointment for me is spending 100mill+ (crazy money for us) and a squad that's no better than what we had. At least next season we should at least be competitive.
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atty added 09:35 - Apr 21 I thought we stood a chance to stay up until after the win against Chelsea. We have got worse not better, the January transfer have had little impact.OK there have been some highlights, such as the away win at Wolves, the Forest cup game, and the draw away at Chelsea but precious few. So many embarrassing stats. We simply are not good enough for the PL. Will at least be able to enjoy seeing some wins next season. Not sure how we will do next season, until we know what the squad is. Thank God we have genuinely committed owners. Spending £30 million on the training ground when relegated is very encouraging.

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blueboy1981 added 10:19 - Apr 21 All in all - an abysmal attempt of a Season in the Premiership - in fact quite EMBARRASSING ! But the Warning Signs were well posted to be honest, and we never improved, in fact the reverse followed. Tough time ahead - a Huge Opportunity missed to stay, and move forward, after a two decade plus wait … !!!
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