A second game against Crystal Palace in a matter of days produced another high-octane performance from Arsenal, who face Ipswich Town up next. Having surpassed the Eagles at the Emirates to move into the Carabao Cup semifinals, the Gunners demolished Oliver Glasner’s men at Selhurst Park with Gabriel Jesus the star once more.
The Brazilian had two or three good chances to secure back-to-back hattricks against the Eagles but will be happy with the brace and an assist. Arsenal put five past their hosts as Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Declan Rice were all on target, but the big news from the game was the serious hamstring injury sustained by Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal now host Ipswich town in their 18th Premier League game of the calendar year, of which the Gunners lost just once last season to Aston Villa. Mikel Arteta will hope for a triumphant ending to 2024, which has been modestly successful, as a win over the Tractor Boys will help the north Londoners keep their chances in the title race, albeit how difficult that may look currently.
Ipswich Town are second to bottom in the league standings and is now in danger of getting dragged deep into the relegation zone. Kieran McKenna’s side will come to the Emirates after yet another poor showing at home, as Newcastle United demolished them with Alexander Isak’s inspired hattrick enough to ensure the Tractor Boys are without a home win after nine games at Portman Road.
They now come away to a side that are yet to lose at home, and early predictions would gladly indicate that will remain the case at the Emirates. Ipswich did win their last away game in the Premier League at Wolves, which saw Gary O’Neil lose his job at Molineux. While a repeat of that performance will be what McKenna would dream of, the reality might be starkly different this time.
In terms of their fate this season, Ipswich are second to bottom, although there’s enough daylight between them and bottom-placed Southampton. However, McKenna will have to start finding solutions to climb out of the relegation zone and improve their chances of survival, which should be their aim ahead of 2025.
Team News & Tactics
Arsenal
The big news at the Emirates has been that of the Saka injury, which will keep him out for a long time, with Arteta referencing ‘many weeks’ when asked about his return timeline. The winger’s absence will be a big blow, which has given rise to stories about a new attacker ahead of the January window.
However, Arsenal may have found a solution to that conundrum on the right side against Crystal Palace when Gabriel Martinelli was very effective on that wing. The idea is for the Brazilian to feature there once again, as Leandro Trossard is expected to feature on the left wing.
There’s a chance that Arteta could look to use Gabriel Jesus from the left, which could see Kai Havertz return to the central role. Arterta used the latter in midfield against Palace, although Declan Rice is now expected to start there alongside Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard.
Raheem Sterling is also out for ‘many weeks’ with a knee problem, which does leave Arsenal a bit short in the attacking setup. The Palace game also saw Riccardo Calafiori return to action from an injury as he will be expected to replace teenage sensation Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Martinelli, Havertz, Jesus
Ipswich Town
McKenna will be without a few of his first team stars, although the only recent such case came with Sam Morsy, who missed out on this trip with a suspension. The others are Chiedozie Obgene, Janoi Doncacien, George Hirst and Axel Tuanzebe.
There was a scare with former Gunners star Omari Hutchison following his substitution at halftime. Still, the attacker is expected to be fit and starting in the attacking setup against Arsenal.
On-loan Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips will keep his place in the centre of the park alongside Jens Cajuste. Camron Burgess and Dara O’Shea are the likely choices in central defence, with Harry Clarke and Leif Davis in the full-back roles.
Conor Chaplin will play in the attacking midfield role with Sam Szmodics on the left-hand side. Liam Delap will have to overcome the big challenge of overcoming those formidable Arsela defenders in Saliba and Gabriel as he hopes to get the best of the duo.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Muric; Clarke, O’Shea, Burgess, Davis; Phillips, Cajuste; Hutchison, Chaplin, Szmodics; Delap
Key Stats
Player to Watch
Gabriel Martinelli
The Brazilian winger has a big point to prove and suddenly has a chance to re-invent himself in Arteta’s plans owing to Saka’s injury. His performance from the right wing was something to behold, although this is not the first time he has played there, as before Martinelli has proved effective there.
With Arsenal missing Saka for a decently long haul, as well as the underused Sterling, Martinelli can have a lethal run there as the right side could be more direct in the approach. While Saka’s injury is not what Arteta would have wanted, it’s certainly given a chance to re-think about the right-hand side. It could prove tactically different for the many weeks to come as Martinelli takes centre-stage in this Arsenal attack.
Prediction
Arsenal 3-0 Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town will come into this clash with some optimism from their last away game but not so much from the most recent clash against Newcastle. The idea will be to figure out a way to trouble this Arsenal defence, although the chances seem pretty low given how Saliba and Gabriel will likely suffucate the likes of Delap at the back.
The Gunners have recently clicked into gear and will bring this form into this one at the Emirates and give the audience something to be entertained.
Arsenal are the overwhelming favourites to take three points and score a few along the way while also keeping a clean sheet to end 2024 on a high note.
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