Arsenal host Ipswich at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League tonight, with the hosts looking to keep up the chase behind Liverpool during a busy winter period.
The Gunners went into Christmas six points behind the leaders, though Liverpool’s game in hand means that it already looked like a mountain to climb to get level with the Merseysiders.
And Arne Slot’s side ensured that they did not slip up against Leicester last night, coming from behind to win 3-1 and keep distance between them and the rest.
Add to that the news of Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury and the size of the task will certainly not be lost on Mikel Arteta and his squad. Tonight, they face an Ipswich side languishing in the relegation spots, with Wolves’ strong start under Vitor Pereira plunging their Premier League future deeper into doubt. A shock away win here would be a huge boost, though, as Kieran McKenna continues to navigate his first campaign as a top flight manager.
Follow all of the latest updates from the Emirates below:
Arsenal host Ipswich in the Premier League | Live on Amazon Prime
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Trossard, Jesus, Martinelli.
Ipswich XI: Muric; Johnson, O’Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis; Phillips, Cajuste; Hutchinson, Szmodics, Delap
KICK OFF!
GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 Ipswich (Kai Havertz, 23 minutes)
Arsenal FC 1 – 0 Ipswich Town FC
21:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Close again! Mikel Merino makes rapid progress into the box and finds a firm side-footed shot towards the far corner. Arijanet Muric is briefly unsighted but reacts swiftly enough to turn the effort away.
21:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A neat routine and almost a lovely Arsenal goal! Martin Odegaard drills a diagonal corner just short of the penalty shot where Declan Rice is waiting to unfurl a thumping drive. It’s bound for the back of the net if not for Dara O’Shea, who stands tall and firm as it thunders into him. Ipswich are just about clinging on.
21:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Lovely footwork from Martin Odegaard, deftly weaving in and out of Ipswich bodies and drawing a fingertip save from Arijanet Muric.
21:43 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Sammie Szmodics is done for the evening – on comes Jack Clarke in Ipswich’s forward line.
A change for Arsenal, too. No goal for Gabriel Jesus; Mikel Merino is introduced, presumably meaning a move forward for Mikel Merino.
21:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Odegaard trudges off, though is back soon enough and showing no ill effects of that ankle tweak.
Down in Sussex, it ended Brighton 0-0 Brentford despite Julio Enciso’s best efforts – a flury of shots from the forward and the rest of the home side but they end 2024 with only a point.
21:37 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A staggering miss from Gabriel, that. It was harder not to score than score, really.
Leif Davis goes into the book for a blunt challenge on Martin Odegaard, who may need a bit of treatment after being caught on the ankle.
21:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle
More like it from Arsenal, perhaps resetting after a lull. Kai Havertz draws a corner after a nice passing move down the left.
And how has Gabriel missed? Another of those outstanding routines sends the centre-back loooping free around the back and when his forehead connects with the ball he can’t be more than two yards out. Somehow, though, he heads wide, and to the side of his dome his hands rise in disbelief.
21:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Arsenal risk letting their grasp on this game slip here. A careless moment in midfield allows Ipswich to come forward again through Omari Hutchinson, forcing Gabriel into some prompt, muscular and mean work to shepherd the ball behind.
Hutchinson has been lively at times.
21:31 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Not with that, though – Leif Davis fails to beat the first man.
21:31 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A lovely free kicks from Kalvin Phillips is headed behind by Declan Rice. Ipswich’s first corner of the match. They can be a threat from set pieces, much like their hosts.
21:29 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Liam Delap and Myles Lewis-Skelly engage in a bit of pushing and shoving, two confident young men going back and forth as the Ipswich striker shows a bit of frustration and the Arsenal left-back gives not an inch. Delap will be hoping for that one chance that his teammates have thus far been unable to create – but while it remains 1-0, the visitors are a threat.
21:26 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Well, not much, as it happens. Martin Odegaard finds the midriff of Dara O’Shea in the wall.
Kai Havertz is booked soon after for ending an Ipswich counter-attack with a tug of the shirt.
21:24 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The pressure is building on Ipswich. Declan Rice surges between a couple of would-be tacklers before being felled by Kalvin Phillips just short of the edge of the Ipswich box. A lovely position for a left-footer, this – though perhaps slightly too close to goal. What can Martin Odegaard and co. conjure?
21:21 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Leandro Trossard is next to rattle the limbs of an Ipswich blocker.
21:21 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Martin Odegaard drives into the Ipswich box and releases a shot, though Jacob Greaves slides across to block well.
21:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Just as in the first half, Sammie Szmodics has a bright opening in the first minute, latching on to a loose pass from David Raya. Could he have tried to lob the retreating goalkeeper early on? Szmodics elects not to try and eventually runs aground under pressure from William Saliba.
21:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It’s still goalless, by the way, between Brighton and Brentford as both sides bid to break the deadlock late on in that 7.30pm GMT kick off.
The players are back out there in London.
21:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle
About as one-sided a half as they come. Aside from that glimpse in the opening moments, Ipswich have seldom ventured out of the barracks, attempting to frustrate with a condensed defensive structure. They had done a reasonable job, too, until Kai Havertz converted Leandro Trossard’s cross midway through the first 45 minutes, and it feels rather likelier that Arsenal add to their tally than the visitors find a way back into the game.
Still, plenty can change during the interval – can Kieran McKenna tempt his side from their shells to get amongst things properly?
21:01 , Harry Latham-Coyle
21:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
One additional minute before some refreshments.
20:59 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Both sides just seem to be waiting for the interval a touch, Ipswich in need of fresh instructions and Arsenal in a position of such strength given their total dominance of the possession. The visitors are yet to have a touch in the home box – though one wonders how this half might have played out had Sammie Szomodics managed to get his boot to that bouncing ball inside 30 seconds.
20:56 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Liam Delap takes a rather nasty tumble having leapt for a header, the striker writhing briefly in pain before making a rather remarkable recovery after the short peep of the referee’s whistle. Just a drop ball, the Ipswich forward is informed. It’s not been his night so far.
20:53 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ipswich are starting to find ways of getting the ball forward with greater regularity, though without being uncharitable it does feel a little ‘lump it and hope’ at times. Arsenal are trying to draw them free from their shape, confident that they have the ability to play through the press if it comes and exploit any free spaces beyond.
20:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle
So nearly for Gabriel Jesus but he has gone too soon! Leandro Trossard finds a gem of a pass along a diagonal to the onrushing striker, who rather clumsily takes but recovers superbly to bisect the legs of the goalkeeper and find the far corner from an acute angle. Alas, he had strayed offside.
20:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Right, that’s more like it from Ipswich. Omari Hutchinson gets forward with pace and purpose and then frees Ben Johnson with a nudged pass. The right wing-back swings in a cross but puts a little too much loop on it, allowing David Raya to rise high to claim.
20:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A rare passage in possession for Ipswich allows them to virtually double their tally of successful passes. Liam Delap might as well have been leaving in a hermitage in this opening half-hour, though doesn’t exactly excel when finally engaged, letting a pass slip between his legs via a clumsy heel to end the movement.
20:43 , Harry Latham-Coyle
No immediate signs of a more proactive approach from the visitors, re-bunkering in and around their own box. Arsenal look livelier and livelier, Jurrien Timber again forward with great zeal but not quite able to connect with Martin Odegaard.
20:41 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A frown of disappointment has spread across the face of Kieran McKenna, his side having been well-built defensively in the opening moments but just so withdrawn so as to invite heaps and heaps of pressure. Just the 11 completed passes so far for Ipswich – do they now veer from their defensive approach?
20:38 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Made by Leandro Trossard, scored by Kai Havertz and Arsenal lead!
It had been coming. You just felt like a chance would surely arrive at some point, such has been the hosts’ total dominance of possession and play. Trossard picks up a loose ball and drives by Ben Johnson, who unwisely shows too much of the outside to the zippy Belgian. To the byline he scurries before scuttling across a fizzing ball that Havertz taps home competently.
20:37 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Leif Davis takes an accidental finger to the eye from Gabriel Martinelli but shows good tenacity to keep pressing and forcing the Brazilian back while rubbing the sore socket.
20:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ipswich are settling into shape well. Arsenal are just getting frustrated at times, forcing a pass or two rather than waiting for one to appear.
Jurrien Timber shows brightly, surging from deep right through the heart of the visiting midfield. His drive is crisp but straight at Arijanet Muric, who gobbles it up like leftover turkey.
20:31 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ipswich are getting pushed deeper and deeper. Liam Delap cuts a lonely figure up front as each and every one of his ten teammates takes up position behind the line of their 18-yard box, forming a thick blue wall that Arsenal cannot pierce.
20:29 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Blocked behind! Better from Arsenal, who have had all of the ball, with Gabriel Jesus curling across the box and Lewis-Skelly setting up Leandro Trossard. Against the legs of Kalvin Phillips and away for a corner.
20:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A loose touch in possession from the usually tidy Myles Lewis-Skelly, but the youngster atones immediately, getting a foot in on Omari Hutchinson as the ex-Arsenal youth player tries to spring free.
20:26 , Harry Latham-Coyle
No clear chances, really, since that Sammie Szmodics failed connection in the opening skirmishes. Here’s how close the Ipswich forward was to prodding his side into a surprise early lead:
20:24 , Harry Latham-Coyle
That’s dreadful from Arsenal. Up lumber the lumpy men to contesta free kick that appears ripe for an inswinging delivery from the left, but an attempt to play short down the line is cut out in comfort by Ben Johnson and the rest of a wary Ipswich defence. Back trudge Gabriel, William Saliba and the rest – not sure that’s how Nicolas Jover drew it up.
20:22 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Nope. Arijanet Muric comes and punches confidently. His clearance travels as far as Martin Odegaard 20 yards out, but the Arsenal captain’s swing is wild and wayward.
20:21 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ipswich are dropping into their back five quickly and effectively so far, Ben Johnson and Leif Davis adding extra defensive strength on either side. Davis can’t prevent Gabriel Martinelli from getting a cross in, though, and Ipswich are forced to concede a corner from his dangerous delivery.
Can Arsenal pounce at the set piece?
20:19 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A raking diagonal pass in the direction of Martinelli just evades the forward, stretching to try to hook the ball back into play but unable to get a toe on it.
20:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It is Gabriel Martinelli on the right for Arsenal, the Brazilian with chalk on his boots as he stays in close proximity to the touchline in these first passages. Kai Havertz appears to have been given freedom to roam.
20:16 , Harry Latham-Coyle
So nearly a brilliant start for Ipswich! A deflected cross from the left loops across the six-yard box and Sammie Szmodics prods at it, failing to make connection with the goal seemingly at his mercy! What an opening in the first 20 seconds – but a chance goes awry!
20:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
And we’re off.
20:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It’s a mizzly night in London, greasing the pitch and dampening the hair of the players as they emerge.
19:44 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Tonight’s other game is already up and running, with Brighton and Brentford a rather intriguing little fixture. It’s the hosts who have begun the brighter down in Sussex, with Julio Enciso striking the post early on – though the young forward should really have found the back of the net.
It’s 0-0 about 15 minutes in to that one.
19:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Three points tonight would re-establish Arsenal as Liverpool’s closest chasers after Chelsea’s defeat against Fulham yesterday. Arne Slot’s side do still have that game in hand, though. Assuming that they beat Everton in that rescheduled fixture, nine points feels like a huge gap given how frail the other contenders have looked and the confidence coursing through the Anfield club.
Even a win tonight is unlikely to lift the visitors out of the bottom three given Wolves’s golden week. Kieran McKenna would need a six-goal win to see his side climb out of the relegation places, which feels unlikely for the division’s third lowest scorers.
19:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Kieran McKenna rings the changes, with Liam Delap returning and Dara O’Shea taking the captain’s armband in the absence of regular skipper Sam Morsy. It looks like a back five.
Ipswich XI: Muric; Johnson, O’Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis; Phillips, Cajuste; Hutchinson, Szmodics, Delap.
19:02 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Leandro Trossard is the beneficiary of Bukayo Saka’s injury, with the Belgian joining Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli in the front three. Declan Rice is back in the Arsenal starting side as young Myles Lewis-Skelly continues at left-back.
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Trossard, Jesus, Martinelli.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
💪 Lewis-Skelly continues at left-back
🔙 Rice returns to the starting XI
🪄 Trossard on the wingLet’s do this, Gunners 👊
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 27, 2024
14:09 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A very good evening and welcome to The Independent’s LIVE coverage of our final helping of the festive football feast. After a busy Boxing Day, Ipswich travel to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal under the Friday night lights as Mikel Arteta’s side look to keep up their pursuit of league leaders Liverpool.
Kick off is at 8.15pm GMT.
