Arsenal Moves to Second Place with 1-0 Win Over Ipswich Town
Arsenal climbed to second place in the Premier League standings after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town on a chilly Friday night in North London.
The Gunners secured the win thanks to a first-half goal from Kai Havertz, who capitalized on a smart pull-back from Leandro Trossard in the 23rd minute. Despite dominating possession, Arsenal struggled to extend their lead, missing several opportunities to put the game beyond doubt.
Missing the creativity of the injured Bukayo Saka, Arsenal took time to find their rhythm, with their first shot coming in the 19th minute. Havertz’s goal four minutes later settled some nerves but the hosts were unable to add to their tally.
Ipswich Town had a brief spell of pressure early in the second half, but Arsenal’s defense held firm. Defender Gabriel Magalhaes missed a golden chance to double the lead, heading wide from a corner while unmarked. Captain Martin Odegaard also came close, firing over the bar after a weaving run into the box.
The win moves Arsenal to 36 points, six points behind league leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand. The victory sees the Gunners leapfrog London rivals Chelsea, who have 35 points, and surprise contenders Nottingham Forest, who sit fourth with 34 points.
Manager Mikel Arteta praised his team’s performance but emphasized the need for continued improvement. “Very happy with the victory, with the clean sheet, and with large parts of the game,” Arteta said. “We should have scored more, but it is the consistency. The team conceded nothing again.”
“Considering all the circumstances we had this season—the amount of times we had to play with ten men, all the injuries that we had—it’s good to be in the position that we are, but it’s not where we want to be. We want to be first,” Arteta added.
Arsenal will look to continue their momentum as they visit Brentford on New Year’s Day, followed by a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on January 4.
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Arsenal climb to second place with 1-0 victory over struggling Ipswich
cgtn.com
