Arsenal secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town on Friday night at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a first-half goal from Kai Havertz. This win places Mikel Arteta's side second in the Premier League, just six points behind league leaders Liverpool.
Havertz’s goal came after 23 minutes, capitalizing on Leandro Trossard’s cross. With this victory, Arsenal has now gone 11 games unbeaten and remains the only team without home losses this season.
"For sure, three points at home is nice. Tough opponent, it's hard to break them down. They didn't have a proper chance so we controlled the game well. We still could have scored one or two more goals," said Havertz after the match. This sentiment perfectly reflected the match dynamics, as Arsenal dominated possession early on, yet struggled to convert this control to clear scoring opportunities.
The match was not without its challenges for Arsenal, particularly with the absence of star winger Bukayo Saka, who is facing two months out due to hamstring surgery. Havertz acknowledged Saka's impact, noting, "He’s scored so many goals, so many assists. Everyone has to step up because we know he’s important." With Saka sidelined, Gabriel Martinelli was shifted to right wing, highlighting Arsenal's efforts to adapt to the loss.
Throughout the match, Ipswich proved to be resilient opponents, employing a defensive setup aimed at stifling Arsenal’s attacking threat. The hosts enjoyed overwhelming possession, at times commanding over 90% of the ball, but found it laborious to break through Ipswich’s organized line.
Despite dominating possession, the game lacked fluidity from Arsenal’s side. Havertz's goal marked the only time the ball found the net before halftime, and they entered the break with Ipswich failing to register even one shot on target.
After the interval, Arsenal continued to search for another goal to ease their nerves. Gabriel Magalhães had the opportunity to double the lead from close range but missed the target, heading wide from Declan Rice's corner. Arsenal's urgency increased as Martin Ødegaard and Rice attempted long-range efforts to confirm their dominance.
Despite Arsenal’s struggle to extend their lead, Ipswich struggled to threaten the Gunners' goal. Throughout the match, Ipswich managed only three attempts, with their performance perhaps indicative of their current form, struggling with five defeats out of their last six outings.
Arteta's side maintained their composure until the final whistle, successfully seeing out the match with another clean sheet—signifying their defensive resilience. "Home games are so important to us and we feel the energy. Everyone is together, we are one football club," Havertz expressed, encapsulating the bond between the players and fans.
The victory keeps Arsenal pressure on Liverpool as they aim for the title. With 12 goals this season, Havertz has now scored six times his last seven matches against newly promoted sides, displaying his improved form after initial struggles since joining Arsenal.
For Ipswich, the defeat leaves them 19th on the table, three points adrift of safety, continuing to battle against relegation fears as they adapt to top-flight football.
Next for Arsenal will be to address their attacking options, especially with Saka's absence expected to last several weeks. The team stands at a pivotal moment, needing to find ways to score without their star forward. Arteta will be hoping to see continued contributions from Havertz and Trossard, alongside others stepping up to fill the void left by Saka.
Arsenal now looks to build on this win and prepare for upcoming fixtures with renewed confidence, striving to maintain their push for the Premier League title. The fans will undoubtedly be eager to see how the team performs away from home and whether they can reclaim their top position.
