Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich: Match Report & Talking Points as Gunners Go into Second
Arsenal huffed and puffed their way to a narrow 1-0 win over Ipswich Town at the Emirates Stadium on Friday night, flying high to second place in the Premier League, a whole six points off the top of the league leaders Liverpool. Mikel Arteta's Gunners were front-foot from the word go, but a solitary goal from Kai Havertz proved to be the difference.
How the Game Unfolded
The match had taken an unexpected start with Ipswich creating an early scare when a ball was swung across the box within the opening seconds. That, however, proved to be a false alarm as Arsenal took immediate control of proceedings. The visitors, led by Kieran McKenna, struggled to cope with the relentless pressure from Arteta's side.
Arsenal dominated possession - 91 per cent of the ball - as Havertz gave them a 23rd-minute lead. It was all down to Leandro Trossard, who danced inside Ipswich's Ben Johnson before pulling a low cross into the six-yard box for Havertz to tap in.
Despite Arsenal's dominance, the Ipswich goal remained safe, thanks to desperate defending from the away side, until the half time whistle blew. In the second half, Arsenal laid siege, but the continuing failure to put chances to good use left the match open and up for grabs.
Missed Opportunities
In the second half, Arsenal could have gone two up. Gabriel from a corner headed, only from a few yards out, which bounced in an ungainly manner and he missed the target. Another goalmouth melee after a corner by Martin Ødegaard found Declan Rice shooting and seeing his effort blocked.
The Norwegian midfielder of Arsenal had another chance soon after but blasted a close-range shot over the bar. Havertz and Trossard combined again, but the German forward's effort from seven yards out was poorly struck and wide.
Ipswich's Late Surge
Ipswich, behind the eight ball throughout, had a late surge that finally gave a few nervy moments to the Emirates faithful. The visitors launched a barrage of attacks in the final minutes of the game, but Arsenal's defense held strong and made sure the team had the three points.
Talking Points
- Kai Havertz Shines: One of the bright spots of the match was the display of Havertz. Clinical in finishing Trossard's cross, his general display indicated he is slowly growing into life at Arsenal.
- **Lack of Cutting Edge in Arsenal's Attack: The Gunners had dominated possession but failed to convert enough chances, which was frustrating at some moments. This game underlined the need for sharper finishing if they want to win the title.
- Ipswich's Resilience: Ipswich might have been out of the game for most of the time, but their late surge and some of their defending showed a certain resilience. They remain in the relegation zone, but this performance showed they can still cause problems for more established sides.
- **Arsenal's Title Push: The win was important to Arsenal, who are doing all they can to win the Premier League title. These three points took them to second place, and considering that Liverpool have dropped points in recent weeks, Arteta's men are well-placed for a title challenge.
Conclusion
Arsenal's narrow 1-0 win over Ipswich Town was a hard-won result, yet essential in the context of this season's Premier League chase. It was not pretty, but it got them the three points to pile on more pressure on leaders Liverpool. As the games go deeper into the current season, Mikel Arteta will be praying fervently that his side takes this to the next level and converts chances into goals while chasing some silverware.