Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich (27 Dec, 2024) Game Analysis

Arsenal moved as much as second within the Premier League and inside six factors of Liverpool after a largely trouble-free, if barely pedestrian, 1-0 win at dwelling to struggling Ipswich City on a cold night time in north London on Friday.

A primary-half objective from Kai Havertz, who pounced on a sensible pull-back from Leandro Trossard, proved the winner though the hosts ought to have scored extra because the Gunners’ efficiency failed to supply many pre-New Yr fireworks.

Missing the creativity of Bukayo Saka, who will probably be sidelined till March after present process surgical procedure on a hamstring damage, it took 19 minutes earlier than Arsenal mustered their first shot though 4 minutes after that Havertz netted his sixth of the season in all competitions by tapping in Trossard’s whipped cross.

Ipswich had a spell of strain after 10 minutes of the second half but it surely proved fleeting and Arsenal ought to have comfortably put the sport to mattress after that.

Defender Gabriel Magalhães missed a golden alternative to increase his run of scoring from corners when he headed simply large when fully unmarked. Captain Martin Odegaard then blazed over after he danced from midfield into the guests field.

The win lifted Arsenal to 36 factors behind Liverpool, who’ve 42 and a recreation in hand, and meant the Gunners leapfrogged each London rivals Chelsea, who’ve 35 factors, and one of many season’s shock packages Nottingham Forest, fourth on 34.

Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta advised reporters he was “very pleased with the victory, with the clear sheet and with giant components of the sport. We must always have scored extra however it’s the consistency, the staff conceded nothing once more.

“Contemplating all of the circumstances we had this season, the quantity of instances we needed to play with 10 males, all of the accidents that we had, it is good to be within the place that we’re but it surely’s not the place we wish to be. We wish to be first.”

The Gunners subsequent go to Brentford on New Yr’s Day and Brighton & Hove Albion on Jan. 4 earlier than taking part in two home cup video games and internet hosting native rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Jan. 15.

Friday’s match began slowly as Arsenal stored the ball effortlessly early on, though it was largely in non-threatening areas till Trossard burst to the byline after 23 minutes and fired the ball throughout for Havertz to prod in.

Arsenal ahead Gabriel Jesus thought he had added to his latest run of targets later within the half when he poked the ball by means of the Ipswich keeper Arijanet Muric’s legs from an unfathomably tight angle but it surely was dominated out for offside.

The house aspect created a handful of excellent possibilities within the remaining 20 minutes too with Odegaard, Havertz and Trossard all getting photographs in but when Arsenal are to maintain up their problem on Liverpool they might want to reveal extra medical ending.

Ipswich stay second-bottom with 12 factors from 18 video games, three off the protection zone, earlier than they host Chelsea on Monday.

“The gamers labored actually arduous and we acquired the sport to place within the second half after 20 minutes,” Ipswich supervisor Kieran McKenna advised the BBC.

“Early on we had been pinned in and could not get out however to be the place we had been after 89 minutes I used to be actually happy … Some defending was good and we’ll want that on Monday towards Chelsea.”