Arsenal v Ipswich: Premier League – Live | Premier League

On December 28, 2024By Littum

Key events

Mikel Arteta speaks to Amazon. “We’ve had an extra day off and good preparations … we have a really tough game ahead … Bukayo Saka is going to be out for many, many weeks … it’s a good opportunity for the rest of the squad to step up … who wants to take more responsibility.”

Kieran McKenna talks to Amazon Prime. “Ben Johnson is a versatile player … there will be phases where we defend as a back-feer … sometimes a back-four … it will be a tough night but hopefully a good night … the reaction (to the 4-0 defeat against Newcastle) have been really good on the training ground … the game got away from us … the first for a while … it’s a new game and a new challenge … we’ll get our heads on … we’ve got to keep our culture … we’ve got to adapt and be competitive… it’s been a big journey for our players… last time we came up short, tonight we can go again… we’ve analyzed Arsenal as best we can… we’ll have to see a lot of set plays.”

Arsenal make two changes to their starting XI after the 5-1 win at Palace. Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard feature; Thomas Partey drops to the bench, while Bukayo Saka is the hoarder.

Ipswich make five changes following their 4-0 home defeat to Newcastle. Liam Delap, Kalvin Phillips, Ben Johnson, Luke Woolfenden and Jacob Greaves take the places of Harry Clarke, Wes Burns and Conor Chaplin, who sit on the bench, and Cameron Burgess and captain Sam Morsy miss out altogether.

The teams

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Rice, Havertz, Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli.
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Partey, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Merino, Calafiori, Nwaneri.

Ipswich Town: Muric, O’Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis, Phillips, Cajuste, Johnson, Hutchinson, Szmodics, Delap.
Subs: Walton, Harrison Clarke, Burns, Chaplin, Taylor, Al Hamadi, Townsend, Broadhead, Jack Clarke.

Judge: Darren England (South Yorkshire).
WAS: Alex Chilowicz

Preamble

There is no need to be overly dramatic. Title-chasing Arsenal may be nine points behind current leaders Liverpool, but both teams still have 21 games to play, so neither is in must-win territory just yet. That said, Mikel Arteta’s side will not feel too smart about themselves if they don’t claim all three points tonight, coming off the back of a 5-1 win at Crystal Palace and playing against a team that just been beaten. 4-0 at home by Newcastle. Arsenal – who are unbeaten at home this season – are 7-1 on tonight, while you can get Ipswich – who haven’t won this game since 1979, the days of Arnold Muhren, Mick Mills and Bobby Robson – in the 20s. So this looks like a shoo-in. Then again, you never know in the Premier League and Ipswich could be in fast-and-loose mode, seeing this game as a free hit in their quest to get out of relegation danger. We’ll find out soon enough. Kick-off is at 20:15 GMT. It’s on!