Key events
Mikel Arteta speaks to Amazon. “We've had an extra day off and good preparation… we've got a really tough game ahead of us… Bukayo Saka is going to be out for many, many weeks… it's a good opportunity for the rest of the team to make a statement. step forward… who wants? take on more responsibilities.”
Kieran McKenna speaks to Amazon Prime. “Ben Johnson is a versatile player… there will be phases where we will defend as a back five… sometimes as a back four… it will be a difficult night, but hopefully it will be a good night… the reaction (to the 4-0 defeat against Newcastle) has been We have been very good on the training ground… the game got away from us… the first in a long time… it's a new game and a new challenge… we want face it head on…we have to maintain our culture…we have to adapt and be competitive…it has been a great journey for our players… last time we fell short, tonight we can do it again… we have analyzed Arsenal as best we can… we will have to overcome many set pieces.”
Arsenal make two changes to their starting XI following the 5-1 win at Palace. There are Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard; Thomas Partey falls to the bench while Bukayo Saka is paralyzed.
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 place of Harry Clarke, Wes Burns and Conor Chaplin, who are on the bench, and Cameron Burgess and captain Sam Morsy, who are left out entirely.
the teams
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Rice, Havertz, Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli.
Substitutes: Neto, Tierney, Partey, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Merino, Calafiori, Nwaneri.
Ipswich Town: Muric, O'Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis, Phillips, Ctrabajo, Johnson, Hutchinson, Szmodics, Delap.
Substitutes: Walton, Harrison Clarke, Burns, Chaplin, Taylor, Al Hamadi, Townsend, Broadhead, Jack Clarke.
Referee: Darren England (South Yorkshire).
VAR: Álex 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 left to play, so no one is in must-win territory yet. That said, Mikel Arteta's side won't be too happy with themselves if they don't get the three points tonight, coming off a 5-1 win at Crystal Palace and playing against a team that has just been beaten. 4-0 at home against Newcastle. Arsenal, who are unbeaten at home this season, are 7-1 onwards tonight, while Ipswich, who have not won this match since 1979, the era of Arnold Muhren, Mick Mills and Bobby Robson, stand to win 20 shillings. So this seems like a safe bet. On the other hand, you never know first divisionand Ipswich may be in fast and easy mode, seeing this game as a free hit in their quest to free themselves from relegation danger. We will know very soon. The start will be at 20:15 GMT. It's on!
