Arsenal vs Ipswich – Match preview and team news

The Football Faithful

·27 Desember 2024

Arsenal vs Ipswich – Match preview and team news

Arsenal host Ipswich Town on Friday evening and can climb up to second with a win at the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta’s team found form last weekend with a 5-1 thrashing of Crystal Palace and will be aiming to reduce the gap to leaders Liverpool this evening.

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The Gunners will have to combat the loss of Bukayo Saka, however, who is set for an extended spell on the sidelines. Saka sustained a hamstring injury in the win at Palace and is joined on the treatment table by Raheem Sterling. Arteta confirmed this week that both players will be out for ‘many weeks’.

Let's close the year out in style ✊
– Kamis, 26 Desember 2024

Arsenal host an Ipswich side struggling to keep afloat in the Premier League. The Tractor Boys are 19th in the table and have won just twice since promotion.

Arsenal vs Ipswich – Match Preview and Team News

Form

Arsenal: DWDWW

Arsenal have rediscovered their momentum after consecutive Premier League draws, securing back-to-back wins over Crystal Palace in cup and league. Last weekend, the North Londoners ran riot to secure a 5-1 win at Selhurst Park, easing to a comfortable win across the capital.

Gabriel Jesus scored five times in those two victories, following a Carabao Cup hat-trick against the Eagles with a brace last time out. The Brazilian has struggled for goals of late but recent performances indicate he can have a central role in the absence of the injured Saka.

Arsenal scored again from a set-piece against Palace and have scored more goals from those situations (9) than any other side. However, only Brentford (1) have conceded less set-piece goals than Ipswich this season.

Ipswich: LLLWL

After a late win at Wolves breathed new life into Ipswich’s fight for survival earlier this month, a heavy home defeat last weekend was a reality check for Keiran McKenna’s side. Alexander Isak hit a hat-trick as Newcastle won 4-0 at Portman Road, a result that leaves the Tractor Boys mired in the bottom three.

Ipswich’s home form has been an issue, having failed to win in front of their own fans this season. A trip to Arsenal might offer some encouragement, given 66% of their points have been won on the road. That includes a 2-1 win on their last visit to North London, as goals from Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap earned three points at Tottenham.

Last meeting

Arsenal 3-0 Ipswich (Aggregate 3-1), Carabao Cup semi-final, 2011

Arsenal overturned a first-leg deficit to reach the Carabao Cup final in 2011. The Championship strugglers had earned a shock 1-0 win in the first meeting at Portman Road and proved stubborn opposition again in the return.

It took over an hour for the Gunners to level the tie when Nicklas Bendtner fired past Martin Fulop, before Laurent Koscielny completed the comeback from an Andrey Arshavin corner just three minutes later. Cesc Fabregas sealed the win for Arsenal late on, though the North Londoners lost the final after a shock defeat to Birmingham City.