Arsenal vs Ipswich LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Kai Havertz goal earns three points
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich: The German’s first-half goal was enough to Mikel Arteta’s side to end 2024 with a win
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal climbed to second in the Premier League as they overcame a defensively-strong Ipswich at the Emirates Stadium.
An early goal from Kai Havertz, converting a fizzed cross from Leandro Trossard, proved enough for the hosts to re-take their place as Liverpool’s closest chasers after a 1-0 win. Mikel Arteta’s side were far from their fluent best against a tightly-packed visiting side, though were seldom troubled as Ipswich struggled to escape their own end.
Trossard had been brought into the starting line-up for the first game after Bukayo Saka suffered a hamstring injury that will sideline the Arsenal star for several weeks. Arteta could have done with Saka’s spark, with clear chances relatively few and far between even if Gabriel should have added a second from a corner routine in the second half. Ipswich’s best opening came in the first 30 seconds, though Sammie Szmodics could not make contact with a bouncing ball. They remain 19th.
Re-live all of the action from the Emirates below:
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich, 62 minutes
More like it from Arsenal, perhaps resetting after a lull. Kai Havertz draws a corner after a nice passing move down the left.
And how has Gabriel missed? Another of those outstanding routines sends the centre-back loooping free around the back and when his forehead connects with the ball he can’t be more than two yards out. Somehow, though, he heads wide, and to the side of his dome his hands rise in disbelief.
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich, 61 minutes
Arsenal risk letting their grasp on this game slip here. A careless moment in midfield allows Ipswich to come forward again through Omari Hutchinson, forcing Gabriel into some prompt, muscular and mean work to shepherd the ball behind.
Hutchinson has been lively at times.
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich, 60 minutes
Not with that, though - Leif Davis fails to beat the first man.
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich, 59 minutes
A lovely free kicks from Kalvin Phillips is headed behind by Declan Rice. Ipswich’s first corner of the match. They can be a threat from set pieces, much like their hosts.
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich, 56 minutes
Liam Delap and Myles Lewis-Skelly engage in a bit of pushing and shoving, two confident young men going back and forth as the Ipswich striker shows a bit of frustration and the Arsenal left-back gives not an inch. Delap will be hoping for that one chance that his teammates have thus far been unable to create - but while it remains 1-0, the visitors are a threat.
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich, 53 minutes
Well, not much, as it happens. Martin Odegaard finds the midriff of Dara O’Shea in the wall.
Kai Havertz is booked soon after for ending an Ipswich counter-attack with a tug of the shirt.
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich, 51 minutes
The pressure is building on Ipswich. Declan Rice surges between a couple of would-be tacklers before being felled by Kalvin Phillips just short of the edge of the Ipswich box. A lovely position for a left-footer, this - though perhaps slightly too close to goal. What can Martin Odegaard and co. conjure?
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich, 49 minutes
Leandro Trossard is next to rattle the limbs of an Ipswich blocker.
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich, 48 minutes
Martin Odegaard drives into the Ipswich box and releases a shot, though Jacob Greaves slides across to block well.
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich, 46 minutes
Just as in the first half, Sammie Szmodics has a bright opening in the first minute, latching on to a loose pass from David Raya. Could he have tried to lob the retreating goalkeeper early on? Szmodics elects not to try and eventually runs aground under pressure from William Saliba.
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