Arsenal moved as much as second within the Premier League, six factors behind leaders Liverpool, as Kai Havertz’s first-half purpose secured a slim 1-0 win over Ipswich on the Emirates Stadium.
It appeared Arsenal had been set for a cushty night time when Havertz turned house Leandro Trossard’s cross from shut vary within the twenty third minute for his seventh Premier League purpose of the marketing campaign.
However the Gunners, with out Bukayo Saka, whose hamstring damage is about to maintain him out for greater than two months after he underwent surgical procedure, had been unable to capitalise on their dominance, spurning a collection of second-half probabilities and guaranteeing the Nineteenth-placed guests remained within the recreation till the final.
Participant scores
Arsenal: Raya (7), Timber (7), Saliba (8), Gabriel (7), Lewis-Skelly (7), Rice (7), Havertz (7), Odegaard (7), Martinelli (6), Trossard (7), Jesus (6).
Subs: Merino (6), Partey (6).
Ipswich: Muric (7), Johnson (6), O’Shea (7), Woolfenden (7), Greaves (7), Davis (7), Phillips (6), Cajuste (6), Hutchinson (6), Szmodics (6), Delap (6).
Subs: J Clarke (6), Taylor (6), Broadhead (6), Ali Al-Hamadi (6), H Clarke (n/a)
Participant of the Match: William Saliba
- Because it occurred: How Arsenal edged to victory
- Groups | Match stats: Gunners dominate
- Reside Premier League desk | Watch PL highlights without spending a dime
Gabriel Magalhaes missed Arsenal’s finest alternative, heading a Declan Rice nook huge from a number of yards out when it regarded simpler to attain, whereas Martin Odegaard and substitute Mikel Merino had been denied by Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.
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Sky Sports activities Information’ Danyal Khan and Nick Wright have a look at how Arsenal coped of their first match with out star man Bukayo Saka towards Ipswich.
Arsenal gave little away on the different finish, with Ipswich solely registering three photographs, none of which troubled David Raya, however Mikel Arteta, who fielded Gabriel Martinelli in Saka’s place on the proper, will hope they discover extra innovative for his or her upcoming journeys to Brentford and Brighton as they attempt to maintain tempo with Liverpool.
Gabriel reacts after sending a close-range header huge of the Ipswich purpose
The win sends Arsenal above Chelsea, who misplaced to Fulham on Boxing Day, and means they’re six factors behind Liverpool, who’ve a recreation in hand. Ipswich stay Nineteenth however earned a heat ovation from the travelling followers for his or her efforts within the recreation.
Arteta: Saka going through greater than two months out after surgical procedure
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta revealed Bukayo Saka has undergone surgical procedure to restore his hamstring after the sport, saying the ahead will miss a minimal of two months in a big blow to the Gunners’ title hopes.
“He had a process and every little thing went nicely, however sadly he will likely be out for a lot of, many weeks,” he stated. “I feel it will likely be greater than two months. I do not know precisely how for much longer.
“I feel it is going to rely on how the scar tissue begins to heal within the first week or so, the mobility of it. Let’s examine. It’s extremely tough to say.”
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta confirmed that Bukayo Saka will likely be absent for greater than two months after present process surgical procedure
There was higher information on Raheem Sterling’s damage, nevertheless. Arteta stated: “We’ve got to see this week how he evolves however we anticipated the knee damage to most likely take longer than truly the best way it’s evolving in the previous few days. Hopefully that’s good as a result of we’d like him.”
On Arsenal’s efficiency, Arteta added: “I am very proud of the victory and the clear sheet and components of the sport. It was a really tough opponent after a future of video games. It was about margins, and we might have scored extra however crucial factor is how we dealt with the tip of the sport.
“We should always have scored extra however our defensive behaviours had been excellent and that may at all times give us the possibility to win video games.”
Evaluation: Arteta has work to do to search out components with out Saka
Arteta promised Arsenal could be “totally different” with out Saka. He is aware of he has no direct alternative for the 23-year-old. On this proof, although, it would take a little bit of time to discover a working components in his absence as he begins a prolonged interval on the sidelines.
Martin Odegaard strikes a shot on the right track towards Ipswich
Martinelli was chosen to imagine the position of Arsenal’s right-sided winger having impressed after transferring throughout following Saka’s withdrawal within the win at Crystal Palace however he struggled, not registering a single shot, creating any probabilities and even finishing any dribbles.
The purpose originated from the alternative facet of the pitch, with Trossard bursting away from Ben Johnson and sending a teasing cross into the six-yard field, the place Havertz pounced. However Arsenal continued to direct the next proportion of assaults down their proper.
Arsenal despatched 49 per cent of their assaults down the proper flank
Martinelli was not the one one they regarded to. Martin Odegaard supplied help and Arteta’s entrance line was extra fluid than traditional, with Gabriel Jesus and Havertz additionally popping up on that flank, in addition to interchanging positions with one another earlier than Jesus was substituted.
Their motion induced issues for Ipswich at instances, however Arsenal typically struggled to carve out openings, save for a spell within the second half after they peppered the guests’ purpose.
In the long run, it didn’t matter. Arsenal acquired the consequence they wanted to maneuver above Chelsea and keep up a correspondence with Liverpool on the prime of the desk. However there may be work to do as they gear up for an prolonged spell with out their finest and best attacking participant.
‘Particular’ Lewis-Skelly earns reward
Mikel Arteta described Myles Lewis-Skelly as “particular” after he produced one other assured efficiency at left-back on the Emirates Stadium
The 18-year-old saved his place within the facet regardless of the presence of 4 left-backs – Riccardo Calafiori, Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior – on the bench.
Myles Lewis-Skelly is challenged by Ben Johnson and Omari Hutchinson
“He’s a particular character – he has the capability to ask sure questions that I haven’t got the solutions to,” Arteta informed Amazon Prime.
“He is nicely forward of his age, so mature. He has atmosphere and a very good household. He is tailored nicely to the best way we’re enjoying. Credit score to him.”
The 18-year-old has proven excellent composure and technical capability all through his run within the facet, finishing all however 5 of his 180 passes throughout 4 begins.
Stick with it in the identical manner and Arsenal’s different left-backs will discover it exhausting to dislodge him from the staff.
McKenna: We labored exhausting to maintain it aggressive
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna:
“We knew tonight we would have liked to be stable and resilient within the recreation. We needed to provide ourselves an opportunity to remain within the recreation within the first half and provides ourselves an opportunity to assault it extra within the second half.
“We ended up deeper than we needed within the first half. However the best way we stabilised and managed to dial it up a bit within the second half, we acquired the sport into a very wholesome place, pushing for an equaliser.
“I feel between that first purpose and the tip of the sport, there was an terrible lot of labor achieved to maintain it aggressive.”
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