Arsenal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Ipswich Town this evening, as Mikel Arteta’s side edges closer to Liverpool in the title race.
The Gunners dominated the game from the early exchanges, determined to take the lead as quickly as possible.
Ipswich Town, praised this season for their brave style of play, showed flashes of that confidence early on. However, Arsenal controlled much of the first half and were rewarded when Kai Havertz scored the opener just before the half-hour mark.
The Gunners continued to press for a second goal, and the in-form Gabriel Jesus thought he had doubled their lead, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.
Despite their dominance, Arsenal went into halftime with just a 1-0 lead. They picked up where they left off in the second half, but Ipswich began to grow in confidence, sensing they could salvage something from the match.
Gabriel Magalhaes had a golden opportunity to extend Arsenal’s lead, but the Brazilian headed wide from a position where you’d usually bet on him to score.
Arsenal, eager to secure the decisive second goal, kept piling on the pressure. Martin Odegaard came close after a brilliant solo run, but Ipswich’s resolute defending kept the Gunners at bay.
In the end, Arsenal couldn’t add to their tally but managed to hold on for a crucial 1-0 win.
I can’t believe the hero worship that Harvetz getson this site. Yes he tapped the ball in, but couldn’t Nketian also do that kind of thing? Please tell me what else the big strong lad did to influence the game. At least Martinelli ran his guts out doing the running for himself and Timber who was mostly static.
go away and support city, oh wait not an option, miss me with your nonsense please. just attacking the guy that scored, im a fan, honest
You can also go support Swindon Town since you are so comfortable in mediocrity.
Always brilliant to see one fan tell another to go support another club over a difference in opinion. It’s what I come to fan sites for. Debates are overrated
😂😂😂👍
He won several aerial balls. We need his height to receive Raya’s long passes and to threaten Ipswich in the corner situations
Gabriel Jesus’s scoring droughts are often linked to his positioning. Despite his technical skills, he doesn’t always make the best runs or find himself in optimal scoring positions. For example, he likely wouldn’t have scored the goal that Kai Havertz did.
Havertz, a more natural goalscorer, would have been more effective in converting the crosses from Martinelli if he had started as the striker. This suggests that Havertz possesses superior goal-scoring instincts compared to Jesus.
What we really need now is an effective left-footed replacement for Saka as Martinelli doesn’t make the cut – he’s been so poor there.
Nketiah has not scored in the premier league for 14 months
Nketiah would have trouble scoring in a brothel. As for Havertz, yes his goal wasn’t a spectacular strike, but if he hadn’t have connected properly the ball may well have either have flown over the bar or past the post. Also, not all footballers are speed merchants. Some use their footballing brain to make up for the lack of speed, and Havertz is one such player.
We are 2nd bunch of people will pretend City/Chelsea whoever are doing fine and we are failing. Meanwhile in all comps and 2nd in the league despite injuries. Spurs in the mud. United in the mud. So on and ungrateful so on.
Angus has a habit of crawling out of the woodwork and “only sings when he’s winning”.What I’m saying is that as a midfielder Harvetz is rubbish, and as a striker he is pedestrian. Of course he scored a goal, a hard fought pass by Martinelli an excellent cross by Trossard. An open goal which any EPL striker would have gotten into position for. Otherwise we’d be playing with ten men for most of the game.
I think he makes the most on the squad. Not worth his transfer fee or his high wages. Decent enough player and does enough now to not face a lot of scrutiny, but I wouldn’t prefer to have him in an Arsenal XI and he’s a player that can be improved upon. Questionable recruiting is starting to catch up to Arteta.
@Joe. S. You make a good point regarding Havertz. I get sick of this nonsense regarding Havertz’s aerial abilities. He maybe tall, but when and if he wins a high ball,, the end result is usually at the feet of the opposition,,, ie lost possession as always. As for David Raya hitting Kia Havertz with long balls is absolute nonsense talk, and not constructive. Long balls is not Arteta Ball. As for your mate ANGUS,,, I would not be too bothered by him. It all depends on which TREE he is SWINGING from. One week it’s a BANANA 🍌 TREE,,, the following week it’s the COCONUT 🥥 TREE
It wasn’t exactly a classic. Another Everton type of game with a blanket of blue made which made it difficult
There was the nearly goal by Jesus but overall it was tough for them and tough to watch as well. There were a couple of good chances and on another day they might have gone in. As I used to sing 🎶 one-nil to the Arsenal
❤️
Dreadful performance. Martinelli was poor again but played the whole match! Why didn’t Nwaneri get any game time? How is he meant to establish himself without getting minutes even against one of the poorest teams in the league.
This is without doubt Arteta ‘s weakest area as a manager. His unwillingness to use his squad efficiently and effectively is incredibly frustrating to watch. What did Martinelli do so well that Nwaneri is at least unable to match?
Intimately Arsenal won the game but the performance was incredibly poor but it is this constant reliance on the same players game after game that has cost Arsenal in the past and will probably cost them this season and as long as Arteta continues to mismanage his personnel.
Nwaneri should’ve replaced Odegaard or Martinelli, but at least we leave the game with three points
“What did Martinelli do o well that Nwaneri is at least unable to match”.
How about crossing the ball with his right foot in the build up to our goal ?
Of course, you’re right! This exceptional skill is far beyond the limits of a talented young player. Give Martinelli a new contract and let’s never drop him again based on him being able to cross a ball with his strong foot 🤦
It’s not like Trossard didn’t play the actual cross that assisted the goal with his weak(er) foot. Whilst I do think professional footballers should be more comfortable on their non-dominant foot, they are usually capable of smashing in a hopeful cross.
Some of comments in this thread are scary. You people are allowed to vote and produce other little clones of yourselves that go on to have similarly I’ll thought-out opinions that are delivered in equally poorly structured sentences.
A vital win and three crucial points to wrap up 2024. Attention on Brentford next. COYG!
The hyper-cautious game plan produced one good goal. I think Arteta instructed Lewis-Skelly not to make long cross despite having reached the byline and no Ipswich player near him
Arteta’s extremely-high ball possession tactics would likely work very well for the upcoming away matches where the oppositions have to attack us, but I think he should’ve been a little bit more adventurous against Ipswich to double our lead and ensure our victory
We really need Saka back, because our conventional RWs won’t be as effective as him
I’m hurting back passes now. All the time it’s back pass, even when another player is runnning. No.
It’s called recycling of possession
Passing for the sake of passing is different from recycling possession. They can look the same but they are not. This Arsenal team does both in equal measure unfortunately.
Just as Pep has done to poor old Jack Grealish, so too is Arteta slowly beating any glimmer of individuality out of the players in favour of system-based football. Whilst this is proven to be a very effective method for success (and after all that is what fans are) it doesn’t make for particularly attractive football.
Everyone is so caught up in the results and trophies, they forgot this is meant to be a form of entertainment. And maybe it’s just me but watching our wingers turn away from the opponent’s goal time and time again just to pass it back through Odegaard, via Timber, via, Saliba, into Rice, out Lewis-Skelly, on to Trossard, just for him to advance 4 years, then turn back and repeat the process in the opposite direction isn’t where it’s at.
Liverpool didn’t do this under Klopp and won the league and they don’t do it under Slot and will win the league again this year. Meanwhile Arsenal are still passing sideways in hope of getting a corner.
3 points, thats were the good points on the game ends. This is why we won’t win anything again this season. Performances like this, slow, short backwards, sideways uninventive passing and robotic football are blighting this team. A chance to get the GD up because its like a point, its one less you have to get and we produce an insipid display. A win is a win but this wasn’t an inspiring one.
lot of the negativity currently are the same people that praised Liverpool for being the 2nd best team and kept saying wed never catch them. We finished above them the last two seasons and are still 2nd with the season not over. wild.
They are about to have two EPL titles from the last 5 seasons. Arsenal None from the last 21. We are rightfully vey frustrated. Arteta is not delivering and in a season that was primed for him finally achieve something.
You are frustrated. There’s nothing “rightful” about it. We have contended for the PL during the last two seasons and this season is not yet over.
You are acting like Arsenal have some divine right to win the league or even compete for it every season? What delusion! Liverpool went 30+ years without winning the league, despite being the most domestically successful team in the land and did they moan? Well, yes, actually they did. A lot. But that doesn’t mean they were right to either! Get a grip. It’s just a poxy game and the manager has got us competing for the league in consecutive seasons in the least satisfying way possible. Can’t you just be happy!?
Ben and reggie said it all so far. how in hell did martineli finish d game, he was awful to watch yet nwaneri was absent but present. I hope arteta knows what he is doing, I hope he just discard matineli and get Matues cunha. Its very sad that martinelli is in arsenal and cuhna is in wolverhampton
Did you think that post through before pressing the click button?
😂😂😂
Not very inspiring. Or frightening, well not for Liverpool.
my job is to periodically show up and state the silent majority. When the site had likes that worked better and literally stopped arguments but i get admin needs to make money and thats a non-common sense dicat (even if they dressed it in nice language when they did it and insisted.)
What on earth are you talking about Angus?!
Once again, I’m sure we live in a parallel universe.
I thought Martinelli had a very good game, his crosses were causing problems, he took his man on whenever possible, linked up with Odegaard.
That’s why he stayed on the pitch!!
All Havertz had to do was score the goal that gave us the three points and moved us up to second in the PL – something no other player did.
I’m sure all you fans who want trophies, will be over the moon with the result, as it keeps us in the hunt for the PL title.
All in all a good night’s work, even if it wasn’t riveting.
@Ken1945. Good point you make Ken. It was a tough watch I must admit. But I’ll take the 3 points to keep Liverpool honest. We had chances there’s no denying that. It’s just a shame we don’t put them away. I didn’t think Martinelli was bad. He’s definitely lost a yard or two in pace. I wish someone could coach him to run with the ball with his head up. Don’t know how many times he’s over run the ball over the by line. He’s certainly not the player he used be. He used to take on players and beat them for the fun of it. I haven’t washed my hands of him just yet. There’s still a player inside there
I don’t think Martinelli can ever be coached to keep his head up. It is his footballing trait – a terrible one.
😂😂
I predicted more goals which never happened and was frustrated. But a dominant win, 3 points and clean sheet. Saka absence will be sorely missed and Martinelli poor again but I still believe he will come good though.
A dominant win?
Are you Arteta ? because these answers are his version after Everton and Fulham. And when can we expect Martinelli to g=come good? As far as Havertz
he almost missed the goal hit the roof off the net and then flopped on an easier tap in that would put the game to bed. I know it is football but these guys are making a shitload of money to put performances like this in. I said before the Pep football is in decline and Arteta needs to adapt.
It is painful watching us play . we make six passes to get the ball from left to right something a U14 team does better. If he can’t play progressive possession with better quicker transition, then even Ipswich will have a shot at us .
lets hope something turns this around. and btw dont anyone come back and tell me we are second. After blowing the title last 2 seasons it is the last thing anyone should be proud off.
Cheer up. 3 points won in a dominant fashion, and now there is only one team ahead of us.
Oh, but finishing first is the only thing we could be proud of. Incredible 🤦♂️
Oh boy, a win yet people are moaning all over the forum. Can you ask Man U fans if they’d have liked to have 3 scrappy points in their last game? Sit second in the league? Results are all that matter and I for one I’m so happy we got the win and are still in the title race. Yes, Liverpool have opened up a big 6-9 point gap but they haven’t had their rough patch yet. If and when it comes, we will be ready to give them a good fight. 3 points in let us stop behaving like spoilt kids.
i’ve complained a lot during and after our games and i’m exhausted and I’m done complaining about Arteta’s shortfalls as a manager, which are holding him back from being a top manager as he seems not willing to change over the past 3 seasons. I’ll just highlight the only two i have:
1. unwillingnes to use his bench. We rank among the lowest for substitutions over the last couple of seasons, and was quite suprised in the last couple of weeks when Arteta used his bench more hoping he had changed, How did Martineli end that match when there was a certain Nwaneri on the bench? Maybe because he defends better when we are without the ball especially towards the end of the second half were he went missing, almost useless in possesion somtimes you could tell he didn’t want the ball and that was what the game needed, someone who wants the ball, can keep it, take on his man and create chances for the second goal. i’m not complaining because i love complaining even when we win or because i dislike Arteta, on the contrary, i’ve always loved him snd still do since the first day he step in as our manager and i want him to do well and have mostly backed him to learn from his mistakes and do better which is why this is so frustrating for me, and also because i know a better team than Ipswich would have punished us at least three times towards the end of the game if they had better players. The level we needtoget to now is one that requires major trophiesa and sadly i think Arteta is holding himself and the club back if he continues to avoid his subs especially like today in the case of Martineli, he needs to trust his bench more, all great managers do.
2. … Kai Havertz scores again. Don’t know what to call it. FAVOURTISM? TRYING TO PROVE A POINT/SALVAGING A WRONG BUY? PROVE YOU THE DOUBTERS WRONG ATTITUDE? What ever it is, the fans and team should not continue to sruggle or suffer because the manager is trying to carry a failed buy. Our highest earning player was identified as the perfect midfieldeer to help the team going foward, that obviously has failed, accept it and move on, people make mistakes do not let this stop the team from achieving its true potential. I made a post expressing my frustrations after seeing the line up with him in midfeild in the previous article knowing that if he scores some will come back to mock and act like that single goal will solve all the pending problems we would eventually face if this continues. I was ok with him leading the lines in attack and would not mind him doing that if Jesus stops scoring and we fail to get a top 9. I still maintain my opinon, if Jesus is in form and scoring, Kai has no place in the starting team especially in midfield and this is no rocket science, you just have to watch us play with him in midfield (the major reason we dropped more points at the start of last season), he can’t hold on to the ball long enough to create chances like all top midfielders do, he gives it right back and hides or goes up the field like he is playing top 9, even Saliba, a CB is more comfortable with the ball in tight areas than him. If Arteta continues with this his love affair with Kai starting no matter what, a better team will expose both of them in any of the major competition. Once again no major trophy, and how can i continue to back him if he seems stock or has reached his highest potential for now as our manager. Frusrating for me bccause i want him and the club to come out unstock.
Do you know why Gabriel Jesus always get longer spells without scoring? His positioning. Jesus, while being a very technical player has very poor positioning and wouldn’t have scored that goal that Kai scored. If Kai had started as a striker, we would have scored more goals from those Martinelli crosses. Kai is a better goalscorer that Jesus and that’s the fact.
I know some who would wish the lone strike was for an own goal against Arsenal.
They can’t get over the pain of Havertz success.
So, I wish them more pain.
If scoring a tap in, makes Havertz a top notch striker, then he’s smashing it.
How easy are you to please Thrill.
The standards at this club, really!.🤦♂️
Sorry to say, I’m at the end of my thread. Constant ads. Killing free speech. Canceling posters. Negativity after a 1-nil to the Arsenal. (Our trademark.) Man, I love this sight and its commenters and authors, but…
Got to second this Adpat about the ads
If I press on an article now again it will take me to a different website .
We fail to create much every time we leave both Partey and Jorginho out and play Rice at number six. It was exactly the same against Everton.
I would play that way in a tough game away but not at home to Ipswich.
AdPat
Have to agree that the ads have become a bloody nuisance. If others are reporting it then it’s not happening in isolation
OK I’ll have a look myself
Have a great New Year Sue
Cheers AdPat
Hope you and everyone else on JA has a happy and peaceful new year
Disappointed that we didn’t win by more, but 3 points in the bag, up to 2nd in the PL and we’re just under halfway through the league season. 20 PL games to go, plus the 2 domestic Cups and the CL. As the old saying goes, it’s not over till the fat lady sings.