please log in to view this image Venue: Emirates Stadium Date: Friday 27th December 2024 KO time: 20:15 GMT Overall Record Wins: 30 Losses: 18 Draws: 11 Last six meetings Arsenal 3-0 Ipswich Town (League Cup) Ipswich Town 1-0 Arsenal (League Cup) Arsenal 2-0 Ipswich Town Ipswich Town 0-2 Arsenal Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich Town Arsenal 1-2 Ipswich Town (League Cup) please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Havertz in midfield again...it shouldn't be an issue in a game like this, but I really, really wish he'd move away from this idea. He's not good there.
1-0. Havertz. Good goal. We were probing for a while, and felt like it was going to take a while to penetrate through their defence. Martinelli's cross is cleared by an Ipswich defender into Trossard, who chops back onto his left foot, accelerates past the full back and crosses it in perfectly for Havertz to smash it home for four yards out. Ipswich need to come out and play now, they can't continue in that 5-4-1 rigid defensive shape they've been deploying.
Some more patient build-up leads to Rice getting the ball on the edge of the box and taking a shot that just flies over. Good to see us using the left hand side more to create attacks, though.
Jesus puts the ball in from an acute angle after a lovely through ball by Trossard, but the Brazilian is just offside. I thought he was from first viewing but VAR confirmed pretty fast.
I thought Martinelli being moved to the right would help him more after his performance against Palace, but he's been poor today. Showed too much of the ball to the fullback, gotten tackled easily and giving the ball away a couple of times cheaply. Need a better display from him.
Been a bit of a weird performance. It's all been quite slow and methodical since scoring. Ipswich haven't really threatened us, but we're equally not doing enough to get a 2nd. Need a faster tempo to our passing to increase our chances of killing the game off sooner.
That was a really poor pass from Timber into Odegaard. Completely ruined our momentum. He wasn't under any pressure, either.
HT. 1-0. I don't understand why we're playing at a snail's pace. We're moving the ball so slowly. We're not under threat, but this has got the feel of a pre-season game. It's just bizarre that we're taking a million touches and trying to keep the ball more than play incisive, penetrative passes to breach their defence. We really need to play with more enthusiasm and energy second half. This is far too laborious.
84% possession, 4 shots, 2 on target for Arsenal. Ipswich have had 16% possession and 0 shots at all. We're firmly 'in control', but no point having so much of the ball if you're not going to use it to extend your advantage.
Good run from Odegaard, he rides some challenges, and gets a shot away, but it gets blocked. Unlucky, but I want to see us do more of that.
Wasted free-kick in a decent position by Odegaard, Havertz then plays a poor pass that gets intercepted and he brings down ex-Arsenal academy player Omari Hutchinson to prevent him from countering. Clear yellow card. Would really be helpful if we could make better decisions in the final-third.
This last 5 minutes has been absolutely pathetic. We've been giving the ball away and they've been winning all the second duels. We need to do so much better.
Gabriel's just missed a sitter. That was a clear header on goal that wasn't challenged and he didn't even get it on target from a few yards out. For a guy that's been so lethal attacking corners, that's a dreadful miss.
Gabriel Jesus off for Mikel Merino. Not sure about that one, but to be honest, no-one's been great today.
Odegaard goes on another lovely, mazy run, gets past 3 players and he leathers a powerful shot which Muric tips over for a corner.
A lovely floated ball from Trossard goes to Rice on the edge of the box and he connects superbly, but Muric makes another good save.
This second half performance has had more chances compared to the first half, however, Ipswich have really struggled in recent weeks and we've made them look like a complicated team to play against when they're not.
