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, 27 minutes
No immediate signs of a more proactive approach from the visitors, re-bunkering in and around their own box. Arsenal look livelier and livelier, Jurrien Timber again forward with great zeal but not quite able to connect with Martin Odegaard.
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich, 25 minutes
A frown of disappointment has spread across the face of Kieran McKenna, his side having been well-built defensively in the opening moments but just so withdrawn so as to invite heaps and heaps of pressure. Just the 11 completed passes so far for Ipswich - do they now veer from their defensive approach?
GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 Ipswich (Kai Havertz, 23 minutes)
Made by Leandro Trossard, scored by Kai Havertz and Arsenal lead!
It had been coming. You just felt like a chance would surely arrive at some point, such has been the hosts’ total dominance of possession and play. Trossard picks up a loose ball and drives by Ben Johnson, who unwisely shows too much of the outside to the zippy Belgian. To the byline he scurries before scuttling across a fizzing ball that Havertz taps home competently.
Arsenal 0-0 Ipswich, 21 minutes
Leif Davis takes an accidental finger to the eye from Gabriel Martinelli but shows good tenacity to keep pressing and forcing the Brazilian back while rubbing the sore socket.
Arsenal 0-0 Ipswich, 18 minutes
Ipswich are settling into shape well. Arsenal are just getting frustrated at times, forcing a pass or two rather than waiting for one to appear.
Jurrien Timber shows brightly, surging from deep right through the heart of the visiting midfield. His drive is crisp but straight at Arijanet Muric, who gobbles it up like leftover turkey.
Arsenal 0-0 Ipswich, 15 minutes
Ipswich are getting pushed deeper and deeper. Liam Delap cuts a lonely figure up front as each and every one of his ten teammates takes up position behind the line of their 18-yard box, forming a thick blue wall that Arsenal cannot pierce.
Arsenal 0-0 Ipswich, 14 minutes
Blocked behind! Better from Arsenal, who have had all of the ball, with Gabriel Jesus curling across the box and Lewis-Skelly setting up Leandro Trossard. Against the legs of Kalvin Phillips and away for a corner.
Arsenal 0-0 Ipswich, 13 minutes
A loose touch in possession from the usually tidy Myles Lewis-Skelly, but the youngster atones immediately, getting a foot in on Omari Hutchinson as the ex-Arsenal youth player tries to spring free.
Arsenal 0-0 Ipswich, 11 minutes
No clear chances, really, since that Sammie Szmodics failed connection in the opening skirmishes. Here’s how close the Ipswich forward was to prodding his side into a surprise early lead:
Arsenal 0-0 Ipswich, 8 minutes
That’s dreadful from Arsenal. Up lumber the lumpy men to contesta free kick that appears ripe for an inswinging delivery from the left, but an attempt to play short down the line is cut out in comfort by Ben Johnson and the rest of a wary Ipswich defence. Back trudge Gabriel, William Saliba and the rest - not sure that’s how Nicolas Jover drew it up.
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