Arsenal vs Ipswich Town preview: Gunning for the new year

Yesterday at 03:15 PM

The Gunners host the Tractor Boys for the last Arsenal match of 2024

Bah, humbug.

The holidays are over, and Arsenal have been left with a mountain of coal in their stocking In the form of a long-term injury to the team's best player, Bukayo Saka.

The season is nearing its halfway mark as the calendar year wraps up, and with it, a fixture list that has given the Gunners little time to rest. Having played 9 matches since the November international break, another 12 remain before the next break in February, and all without their electric right winger, whose success has defined the club over the recent seasons.

But it's not all bad news. Arsenal enter Friday's match on the back of their biggest win of the Premier League season, smashing Crystal Palace 5-1 at Selhurst Park after a second consecutive multi-goal performance from Gabriel Jesus. The previously out-of-form attacker picked the perfect time to find his confidence, as the absence of Saka means more opportunity - and responsibility - for the remaining attackers.

The Gunners have also been in their best form this season since the break with 7 wins and 2 draws since kicking back on. Among those wins have been three explosive matches where the Gunners have scored 5 goals. Considering the lack of a consistent roster due to injuries, it's an impressive display that has largely gone unnoticed in the shadow of Liverpool's ascendency and the absurd Set Piece FC storyline that has been peddled out by too many pundits and outlets to count.

Now, Arsenal need to show that they are more than just Saka, and they can begin a new narrative with a strong showing on Friday.

Can the Gunners continue their winning ways without their talisman?

Here are five talking points ahead of Friday's match:

Know the Enemy

After over two decades of playing in the Championship and League One, Ipswich Town returned to England's top flight after winning the Championship title in 2023/24.

Like countless teams before them that have made the jump to the PL after a lengthy absence, their return to the league has seen them struggle to keep up with the level of the league. Ipswich are currently in 19th place as the season nears its halfway mark, and they are one of the odds-on favorites to be relegated at season's end, having earned 12 points. If not for Southampton being emphatically dreadful, they'd likely be sitting last.

One of the reasons for their struggles has been the lack of quality across the roster. Like Luton last season, they don't quite have the horses to compete against established sides with more money and league-ready rosters. Only a handful of their players have Premier League experience, including Kalvin Phillips, Alex Tuanzebe, and former Arsenal graduate Omari Hutchinson.

They aren't afraid of giving it a go, though, and play with an high-risk, high-reward aggressive style that can give team fits when it works - just ask Tottenham, who generously handed Ipswich one of their two wins this season. But that also comes at a cost, as they have been vulnerable to counters and through-balls. Their 36 goals given up is among the worst in the league, having given up 4 goals on four separate occasions, including their recent loss at Newcastle.

Still, they will likely not shy away from playing on the front foot against the Gunners after Crystal Palace forced Arsenal into some poor play early on. If Arteta's side is slow out of the gate, it could prove costly.

Last Time Out

Arsenal's history against Ipswich Town is lengthy, but with the Tractor Boys having only returned to the Premier League after 22 years, their recent history has been limited to League Cup matches, with the most recent occurring in 2011, when Arsenal won 3-0 in the second leg of the semifinals.

The last time the two sides met in league play came all the way back in April of 2002, when Arsenal won 2-0 at the Emirates en route to winning the league. The win came during a string of thirteen successive victories to close out the season, with the Gunner's win at home against Ipswich coming three matches before Arsenal sealed their title at Old Trafford.

Injuries & Suspensions

The big news over the week was the announcement that Bukayo Saka would be facing a lengthy layoff (6-8 weeks) after rupturing his hamstring. Compounding that news was the report that Raheem Sterling had also suffered an injury that will see him miss significant match time, hurting his knee in training.

Besides the attackers, Ben White, Oleksander Zinchenko, and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain out.

Predicted Lineup

Attack: Jesus, Havertz, Martinelli

In the wake of Saka's injury, the attack faces a reshuffle. Gabriel Martinelli is the most likely to slide to the right, as he showed some quality play from the right against Crystal Palace. Likewise, Gabriel Jesus played himself into a starting role over the last week, and has featured on the left before, which makes way for Kai Havertz to reclaim his spot at the 9 after playing in the midfield last time out.

Midfield: Rice, Partey, Ødegaard

While the attack retools, the midfield should feature a reliable trio. Declan Rice looked sharp after returning from injury, scoring his first goal of the season on Saturday. Thomas Partey and Martin Ødegaard should resume their usual roles and provide balance while the offense finds its footing.

Defense: Calafiori, Gabriel, Saliba, Timber

Much like Rice, Riccardo Calafiori returned to action last weekend and looked strong in his cameo. His return means Arteta can roll out the strongest lineup in the back. William Saliba had a match to forget against Palace, and will look to bounce back with a strong performance at the Emirates.

Keeper: Raya

David Raya single-handedly kept last weekend's match from turning into a nail biter. After giving up an early goal, he locked down the box and kept out several big chances throughout the match, including a spectacular double save to deny the Eagles in the second half.

Life Without Starboy

The painfully obvious storyline heading into Friday's match is how the Gunners will adapt without Saka in the attack. In his absence is a gaping void of creativity and attacking threat that simply cannot be duplicated. Mikel Arteta will have to retool his attack to maximize the players he has at his disposal, which may be for the best, in some ways. Arsenal have become reliant on Saka's individual brilliance to single-handedly carry and/or rescue matches far too often, which have made their attacking patterns on the right a focal point for opposing defenses. With a different lineup, the attack will be forced to become more dynamic and equitable, which may prove tricky for teams to sort out, especially as the left side becomes more involved in the attack.

2024 was a massive year for Arsenal on the scoresheet. The Gunners have put the ball in the net 88 times, which is their best haul in a calendar year in club history. Friday gives them one more chance at adding to that total before the year has come to a close, as well as a chance to continue keeping the gap manageable between them and league-leaders Liverpool and the scrappy upstarts in Chelsea. Calendar year performances don't win titles, but momentum heading into the new year will be vital as the Gunners try to find a new identity in the attack without Saka.

WHO: Arsenal vs Ipswich Town
WHAT: Premier League match day 18
WHEN: Friday, December 27th, 3:15pm EST/12:15pm PST/8:15pm GMT
WHERE: The Emirates Stadium, London
HOW TO WATCH: Broadcast live on The USA Network

For all your international streaming needs, check LiveSoccerTV.com. Please do not discuss or share links to illegal streams here.