Kai Havertz guides Arsenal past Ipswich to show there is life without Saka | first division

The Premier League season is not even halfway over yet, and yet Arsenal knew it was a game they had to win. Liverpool's impressive form at the top of the table had seen to that. It was difficult for long periods, Ipswich digging deeper, determined to show a response. to the 4-0 home win against Newcastle last Saturday, the only time they have been hit hard this season.

Arsenal were restricted. They found it difficult to find opportunities. But in the end, one goal was enough, along with another clean sheet for David Raya, his 23rd in 50 league appearances for the club. The goalkeeper has more at this point Arsenal career than the one the great David Seaman did.

Kai Havertz scored the goal, returning a Leandro Trossard cross midway through the first half and making it look easy. The match was not to be, as Arsenal and Ipswich, who remain in the relegation places, were able to take full advantage of the resilience they showed.

Arsenal did what they had to do, keeping alive the division's only unbeaten home record in the process. They occupy second place, six points behind Liverpool, although they have played an extra game. “Arsenal boring, boring,” chanted the Ipswich crowd towards the end, while Mikel Arteta's team saw him leave with some nerves on edge. All the Arsenal fans smiled at that.

It was the night Arsenal started their streak without bukayo sakathat he has had hamstring surgery and will be out for a minimum of two months; when they had to start looking for a way to replenish their goals and assists.

Arteta's move, as expected, was to switch Gabriel Martinelli to the right wing and call up Trossard on the left. More broadly, Arsenal's idea is to do better without Saka than without captain Martin Ødegaard, when he missed seven league games since mid-September. The team won only three of them. This was a step on the right path, even if Martinelli got few changes from his marker, Leif Davis.

Kieran McKenna wanted Ipswich to be compact. He wanted his team to keep Arsenal in front of them and definitely not allow them to get in the way. That's why he found the concession so frustrating.

Ipswich were solid enough for the first 20 minutes or so. But then a Martinelli cross from the right reached Trossard on the other flank and there was a direct one-on-one between him and Ben Johnson. Trossard won it easily, turning on the afterburners to get to the baseline and cross. When the ball reached Havertz, eluding a couple of blue shirts along the way, the shot from point-blank range was assured.

Ipswich switched between a five and a four at the back; there were more five than four, depending mainly on where Johnson was on the right side. They created a half chance in the first minute when a Davis cross was deflected and Sammie Szmodics was unable to get anything done as it rebounded. But the pattern for the rest of the first half was deeply entrenched: Arsenal dominating the ball, Ipswich with everyone behind. After 27 minutes, Arsenal had monopolized a staggering 92% of possession.

Liam Delap appeared to be at the top of the Ipswich formation and it certainly said something when visiting goalkeeper Arijanet Muric was booed for wasting time after just 20 minutes. That was after Jurriën Timber attacked him directly after running. through a small seam in the center of the field.

Arsenal created little in the first half. Trossard had a shot blocked by Kalvin Phillips, who impressed in his first start since Nov. 2. Declan Rice launched one high from distance. Gabriel Jesús had the ball in the net but was removed for offside.

Arsenal chased a fourth consecutive home clean sheet in the league and Arteta made a bold move to persist with Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back, with Riccardo Calafiori back fit. The 18-year-old had a wonderful moment in the first half when he turned towards the field, away from a challenge, trying to make something happen. If that was noteworthy, it was because there was a lot of hassle and little inspiration.

The home fans needed a second goal to let them breathe easier and it was a mystery how Gabriel Magalhães did not score after Rice curled in on a corner in the 63rd minute. Completely alone and three meters away, Gabriel brushed past a post .

Ødegaard increased his influence after the break, driving in the final third. He worked with Muric and picked out Rice for a volley from the resulting corner. Dara O'Shea blocked. Arsenal pushed. Havertz missed his kick when he was well positioned; The substitute, Mikel Merino, extended Muric. It was also about how the home team kept the back door locked. Despite getting into good positions in the second half, Ipswich didn't really threaten.