LONDON: Arsenal climbed to second place in the Premier League, closing the gap to six points behind Liverpool, with a 1-0 victory over struggling Ipswich Town on a chilly Friday night in north London.
Kai Havertz scored the decisive goal in the first half, capitalizing on a well-timed pull-back from Leandro Trossard. Despite the win, Arsenal’s performance lacked flair, with missed opportunities preventing a more emphatic scoreline.
Playing without the injured Bukayo Saka, Arsenal’s first shot came 19 minutes into the game. Four minutes later, Havertz netted his sixth goal of the season, tapping in Trossard’s whipped cross. Ipswich applied some pressure early in the second half, but Arsenal regained control and missed several chances to extend their lead. Gabriel Magalhaes squandered a prime opportunity when he headed wide from a corner, and captain Martin Odegaard fired over after a strong run into the box.
The victory moved Arsenal to 36 points, overtaking Chelsea (35 points) and Nottingham Forest (34 points) to secure second place. Liverpool remain top with 42 points and a game in hand.
Manager Mikel Arteta expressed satisfaction with the result but acknowledged room for improvement: “I’m very happy with the victory, the clean sheet, and large parts of the game. We should have scored more, but the consistency and defensive solidity were key. Considering the challenges we’ve faced this season, including injuries and playing with 10 men in several matches, it’s good to be where we are. However, we aim to be first.”
Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures include an away match at Brentford on New Year’s Day, followed by Brighton & Hove Albion on January 4. They will also compete in two domestic cup matches before hosting Tottenham Hotspur on January 15.
The match began slowly, with Arsenal dominating possession in non-threatening areas until Trossard’s burst to the byline in the 23rd minute set up Havertz for the game’s only goal. Gabriel Jesus appeared to have added a second later in the first half, poking the ball through Ipswich keeper Arijanet Muric’s legs from a tight angle, but the goal was ruled offside.
