Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich LIVE RESULT: Havertz fires Gunners up to second in Premier League as Arteta’s side end 2024 with win
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ARSENAL have beaten Ipswich 1-0 as Mikel Arteta's side end 2024 with a huge three points.
Kai Havertz's 23rd-minute strike was the only goal on the night as the German took his tally to 12 for the season in all competitions.
Arsenal's win saw them leapfrog London rivals Chelsea into second in the Premier League table.
- Match result: Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich
- Arsenal team: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Havertz, Odegaard, Martinelli, Trossard, Jesus
- Ipswich team: Muric, Johnson, O'Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis, Phillips, Cajuste, Hutchinson, Szmodics, Delap
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'Not great'
Alan Shearer - on co-commentary for Prime Sport - said: "It has not been a great half, but Arsenal have got that goal.
"They still have to be patient and not panic, in hope that Ipswich will come out and play - things may open up."
Half time view from SunSport's Charlie Wyett at the Emirates
It's a 1-0 battering here at the Emirates. The fact Arsenal have had 84 per cent possession sums up their dominance but all they have to show for it is Kai Havertz's goal.
Surely, though, there will be more to come in the second half.
Dominance
Arsenal well on top in possession terms but just the four shots on goal to show for that dominance.
That's still four more than Ipswich though, happy to sit in and defend.
HT!
The whistle brings an end to a quite boring 45 minutes of football.
The Gunners with the all-important lead though.
45 - Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich
Odegaard tries to dinked pass into the box but Ipswich clear.
One minute added at the end of the first half.
43 - Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich
Ipswich players growing increasingly frustrated with the referee here with each 50-50 decision seemingly going the host's way.
Delap putting himself about and they're working tirelessly without seeing much of the ball.
Arsenal not much of an attacking threat since that Jesus non-goal.
38 - Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich
Omari Hutchinson is tripped by Gabriel Jesus down the Ipswich left.
The whistle goes and it's an Arsenal free kick for handball - given for Hutchison falling on the ball.
Interesting call...
GOOOO - NO!
34. Gabriel Jesus has the ball in the net with a tidy finish from a tight angle.
But the flag interrupts his celebrations and the replays show he is a yard or so off.
30 – Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich
Patient again from Arsenal down the left as this time they double up on Trossard.
They work it back to the edge for Rice who shoots from 20 yards but just a couple of feet too high.
Dominant stuff.
28 – Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich
Arsenal well on top and almost cut Ipswich open for a second.
Odegaard found in the box in space but tries to let the ball run across his body and he's blocked off.
23 – Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich
GOAL DETAIL
I guess it was only a matter of time but it was a simple goal.
Trossard stands his man up down the left, just inside the area.
He flashes it across goal into the six-yard box, behind three defenders and KAI HAVERTZ is there to stroke into a near-empty net from close range.
Midway through the first half!
19 – Arsenal 0-0 Ipswich
Jurrien Timber breaks the lines with a run through the middle of the park before unleashing a strike at goal. Routine for the keeper, though.
Amazon just put a stat up there. Passes in the final third:
- Arsenal - 63
- Ipswich - 3
From SunSport's Charlie Wyett at the Emirates
Ipswich have switched to the 3-4-3 system which helped them to a shock win at Spurs but they are getting penned in their final third by Arsenal.
As yet, though, Arsenal have yet to create a clear-cut chance.
15 – Arsenal 0-0 Ipswich
Not sure this was the routine they would have hoped for as a deep cross in finds Trossard all alone and he heads outside the box.
Nothing comes of this attack.
14 – Arsenal 0-0 Ipswich
Patient play from Arsenal this time as they work it to the edge of the box.
Trossard and Odegaard combine before the former receives it back just inside the box on the left of centre.
His shot goalbound is blocked behind for a corner.
11 – Arsenal 0-0 Ipswich
Ipswich happy to let Arsenal have pretty much all the ball as they camp inside their final third.
The Gunners struggling yet to get through but Ipswich are having to work so, so hard to do it.
One chance to counter there and Arsenal hunt in packs to win it back.
Ipswich putting their bodies on the line....
6 – Arsenal 0-0 Ipswich
The corner is half-cleared to the edge of the box where Odegaard is urged to unleash.
But he misses his kick completely, slicing it badly to his left and Ipswich clear.
No goal from a corner? Arsenal slacking....
5 – Arsenal 0-0 Ipswich
Great ball in from Martinelli - operating from the right - which is headed behind.
Corner to Arsenal....
1 - Arsenal 0-0 Ipswich
Blimey, what a start that nearly was for Ipswich!
A terrific cross in from the left isn't met in the middle with any purchase by Sammie Szmodics and Arsenal scramble it clear.
Kick-off!
We're up and running in North London!
Ready to go
A huge cheer for each of the Arsenal players as their names were read out by the announcer.
An expectant crowd expects....
A huge embrace between Mikel Arteta and Kieran McKenna.
Ready for a start!
From SunSport's Charlie Wyett at the Emirates
Here is a real test to see how Arsenal get on without the injured Bukayo Saka.
The last time Ipswich were in the Premier League, in 2002, Arsenal were still playing at Highbury so this is a special night for the club's fans.
If Ipswich are to provide a shock they need Kalvin Phillips to deliver the type of form he was producing before his injury in November.
Visitors arrive
Ah here they come now.
They themselves in an understated black 1/4 zip. But very smart nonetheless.
Gathered
The atmosphere again steps up a notch as the players gather in the tunnel.
Well, the Arsenal players anyway...
Ipswich making them wait a wee touch longer.