Match report
I’ll leave you with Ben Bloom’s match report. Thanks for joining me, and happy Easter. Byeee!
Here’s Jacob Steinberg’s verdict from Stamford Bridge:
Elsewhere, Chelsea’s women are taking on Barcelona – join Yara El-Shaboury for the Women’s Champions League semi-final.
No title party at the King Power, but the hosts need to beat Liverpool or they’ll be officially relegated. So, er, there’s that. Join Will Unwin:
More competitive news from Simon McMahon, who’s watching the Scottish Cup semi-final. “After 33 minutes of the first half, Saint Johnstone would have been fairly pleased to be holding Celtic at 0-0. Half time at Hampden, Celtic 4-0 St Johnstone.”
Other Premier League results
Fulham 1-2 Chelsea
Man Utd 0-1 Wolves
Wolves are officially safe – and level on points with United – after winning at Old Trafford. Chelsea’s late comeback boosts their top-five hopes, and sees Forest drop to sixth before they host Spurs tomorrow.
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Full time: Ipswich 0-4 Arsenal
Arsenal had to avoid defeat to prolong the title race, and that never looked in doubt once Leonardo Trossard scored after 14 minutes. Gabriel Martinelli finished from Mikel Merino’s brilliant backheel and Leif Davis was sent off to end the game as a contest before half-time.
Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri added gloss on a very comfortable afternoon, and a result that leaves Ipswich needing a miracle to avoid returning to the Championship after just one season.
92 mins: Another Arsenal corner, played short again, and Zinchenko beams his shot a couple of feet over the bar.
91 mins: We’re into the second of four added minutes. Conor Chaplin has come on to replace Sam Morsy. Blow the whistle, ref!
A dramatic late turnaround at Craven Cottage! Chelsea were a goal down but Tyrique George levelled, before Pedro Neto grabbed a likely winner in stoppage time. It’s Fulham 1-2 Chelsea …
GOAL! Ipswich 0-4 Arsenal (Nwaneri 88')
And after working the ball around the Ipswich area, Arsenal get their fourth! It’s Ethan Nwaneri, whose shot deflects wildly off O’Shea to give Palmer no chance.
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87 mins: Sterling’s turn to go close, with his shot from close range turned over the bar. Arsenal corner …
86 mins: Odegaard hits the post! Ipswich repel the free kick but Odegaard then fires a low shot from the edge of the area, off the inside of Alex Palmer’s post.
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85 mins: Morsy is penalised for a foul on Zinchenko and tells Craig Kavanagh he “got the ball”, which is a) not true and b) besides the point anyway.
83 mins: Double scorer Trossard is off to a rousing reception from the away fans. He’s replaced by Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, a 22-year-old striker making his Premier League debut here.
82 mins: Changes for Ipswich, with Delap replacing the hard-working Hirst and Massimo Luongo on for Jens Cajuste.
80 mins: Lewis-Skelly combines with Trossard before his shot is blocked by Jacob Greaves. Both Ipswich centre-backs have refused to throw in the towel.
If Wolves can hold on to their lead, that would leave Ipswich (and Leicester, who host Liverpool after this) with only a mathematical chance of staying up – they’d be 15 points behind West Ham with 15 to play for, and a goal difference that’s 19 off the Hammers.
77 mins: Sterling opts to try and go around O’Shea rather than shoot, but is flagged offside anyway. Liam Delap could be about to get a run-out for Ipswich.
75 mins: An Ipswich foray upfield ends with George Hirst unable to find a teammate with a cross from the right.
GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Wolves (Sarabia 77')
It’s not the game we’re watching but … oh my! Pablo Sarabia’s free kick put Wolves in front at Old Trafford.
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74 mins: Lewis-Skelly looks to be stepping into midfield with Zinchenko, while Tierney plays at left-back.
72 mins: Rice makes way alongside Martinelli; they’re replaced by Kieran Tierney and Raheem Sterling. Arsenal now with three competent left-backs on the field together.
71 mins: Declan Rice may get to put his feet up for the last 20 minutes or so, with more Arsenal changes coming. “We’ll never play you again!” is the chant from the away end towards Ipswich fans.
GOAL! Ipswich 0-3 Arsenal (Trossard 69')
Rice’s cross is cut out by Tuanzebe and from the corner, Rice rolls a pass into Trossard, who drills his shot into the far corner. The Belgian doubles up, and Arsenal are probably not losing this game.
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67 mins: Arsenal have 79% possession, which would be a record for a single game this season if they can maintain it. They win a couple of corners before Martinelli’s shot is blocked. Lewis-Skelly intervenes to stop Hirst running on to a loose ball, and Arsenal come again …
65 mins: Odegaard tries to slip a pass into Trossard’s path, but it’s smartly intercepted. Arsenal keep the ball for a spell, and on Sky co-comms, Chris Sutton suggests that we should just end the game now.
64 mins: Palmer takes a long free kick from the centre circle which is nodded into Jack Taylor’s path. He flicks the ball past one defender but can’t get a clean shot away on the stretch.
It’s still Fulham 1-0 Chelsea and Manchester United 0-0 Wolves, by the way.
62 mins: Ipswich are standing up well so far in this second half. Odegaard tries to use the crowded penalty area as a guide to curl one into the far corner, but Palmer is down to smother it.
“Stoke fans are STILL booing Ramsey,” reports Zach Neeley. It seems the Cardiff player (and now interim manager) got an earful during the sides’ FA Cup game in February – a full 13 years after the Shawcross “incident”.
58 mins: White fizzes in a cross that’s too close to Palmer. before Greaves looks to whip a pass forward to Hirst, very much plowing the proverbial lone furrow out there now.
57 mins: Arsenal changes: Ethan Nwaneri is on for Saka, with Myles Lewis-Skelly replacing Merino. I would guess that Zinchenko will move into midfield from left-back.
55 mins: As you might be able to tell, the game hasn’t really gone anywhere in the last few minutes – but George Hirst almost changes that here! Played in behind the defence but very much on his own, he cuts inside and sends a low shot spinning just wide!
“Back in the day, second division Wrexham played in the Cup Winners’ Cup as Welsh Cup winners. Does that count?” asks Frank Clarke. It certainly does – and let’s not forget Merthyr Tydfil, who won the Welsh Cup in 1987 and went on to beat Atalanta at home in Europe – while playing in England’s sixth tier.
50 mins: Odegaard, completely dictating affairs this afternoon, looks for Merino, who is outnumbered in the penalty area. There is then a spot of afters as Morsy reacts angrily to Merino’s challenge, and the Arsenal man flops theatrically to the ground.
49 mins: Since beating Chelsea at home on 30 December, Ipswich’s league form at Portman Road reads 0-2, 0-6, 1-2 (against Southampton!), 1-4 (against Spurs!) 2-4, 1-2 and now 0-2*.
48 mins: From another Arsenal corner, Martinelli’s shot is closed down. Ipswich are finding it so hard to get out from underneath the visitors’ high press, though.
47 mins: A neat passing move between Rice, Zinchenko and Odegaard frees the latter to cross at the near post – but Palmer is there to gather.
46 mins: This could be 45 minutes of attack v defence; Arsenal are straight on the offensive and after a nice touch from Zinchenko, Martinelli wins a corner off O’Shea.
Second half
We’re off! Kieran McKenna makes a half-time change, with Jack Taylor replacing Julio Enciso.
“It almost certainly won’t happen, but if either Spurs or Man Utd were to win the Europa League AND get relegated, what happens? Would they become the first Championship club to play in Europe? Have any clubs managed that previously?” asks Kieran McKintosh.
This is my kind of question, Kieran. If that were to transpire for either team, they would still play in the Champions League next season. There are previous examples of second-tier English sides in the Europa League or equivalents – Wigan (2013-14) and Birmingham (2011-12), to give two recent-ish examples.
“The Ipswich crowd booing Bukayo Saka for the gross negligence in allowing his Achilles to be assaulted by one of their players – it brings to mind Stoke City fans’ equivalent assessment of Aaron Ramsey deliberately breaking his leg against the studs of one of their players,” notes Charles Antaki. “And Stoke weren’t even being relegated at the time.”
Half time: Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal need to avoid defeat here to ensure the title race doesn’t end today. The good news is that, after Trossard and Martinelli goals and a red card for Ipswich’s Leif Davis, their chances of losing this game are now about 0.00001%.
49 mins: Saka can’t latch on to an overhit White pass. Blow the whistle, ref! At Craven Cottage, it’s Fulham 1-0 Chelsea at the break.
48 mins: We’re in the midst of five added minutes, and everyone looks fairly keen to get down the tunnel. At Old Trafford, it’s Manchester United 0-0 Wolves at half time.
46 mins: A scrappy old patch of play culminates in Hirst barging Kiwior to the floor. “Re: Davis’ red card. Is that what’s called an agricultural challenge from the Tractor Boys?” honks Graham Fulcher.
44 mins: George Hirst wins a foul in the centre circle, greeted by huge cheers from the aggrieved Ipswich fans. Morsy looks to hoist it forwards to Hirst, who nods it back towards Burgess – who is penalised for a foul on Merino.
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43 mins: Saka misses a third decent chance in quick succession, getting a boot to Trossard’s cross but sending his effort spinning wide.
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41 mins: Saka’s every touch is still being booed vociferously for the crime of being trodden on by Davis, and there’s big cheers as his cross is claimed by Palmer.
38 mins: Saka at least appears to be moving fine after that Davis tackle, which will be good news for Mikel Arteta. Odegaard looks to scoop the ball into the area, where Alex Palmer collects.
37 mins: Another lovely, deft touch from Merino springs the Ipswich offside trap, leaving Saka one-on-one – but with the goal gaping, he puts his shot wide!
36 mins: Saka now being heartily and undeservedly booed, and he almost quiets the home fans down with a curling effort from out wide that swoops just beyond the far post.
35 mins: Credit to Ipswich fans who booed the original decision, then booed louder when replays were shown on the big screen – managing to avoid the evidence of their own eyes.
34 mins: Jack Clarke is the unlucky attacker who gets the hook, allowing Cameron Burgess to come on and bolster the defence.
Red card! Ipswich's Davis sent off
It goes from bad to worse for Ipswich, with Leif Davis shown a straight red card for a frustrated lunge on Bukayo Saka. He has little cause for complaint, treading on Saka’s heel with the ball long gone.
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Fulham 1-0 Chelsea: Marco Silva’s side saw an early goal chalked off for offside, but they do now lead through Alex Iwobi.
Odegaard plays the ball to Saka, who ghosts past Davis on the right and cuts back to Merino – who produces a moment of magic, backheeling the ball across goal for the unmarked Martinelli to smash it home. Who needs the Baller League with skills like that?
GOAL! Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal (Martinelli 28')
There’ll be no title party today. Arsenal double their lead with a goal of quite brilliant simplicity.
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“Roger Osborne famously broke down after his Wembley goal and had to be substituted,” says Justin Kavanagh of the 1978 Cup final. “I think a similar level of shock would accompany any Ipswich winner today.”
26 mins: Saka slips on the ball in the Ipswich area – a few usually sure-footed players having issues out there today.
25 mins: Merino tugs on Enciso’s arm as the Ipswich man tries to break away – it’s a free kick, but the Arsenal midfielder is spared a booking, much to the home fans’ frustration.
23 mins: Oof! Could have been two for Arsenal here, with Saka’s wicked far-post delivery met by Mikel Merino, unmarked and a couple of yards out. He just can’t crane his neck enough to keep his header on target, though.
22 mins: Martinelli bursts towards goal from the left, but is well marshalled by Tuanzebe. Arsenal corner, which is cleared behind for another corner …
21 mins: Jack Clarke bustles forward for Ipswich and picks out Johnson on the right. His cross towards Hirst is cleared, and Clarke’s awkward attempted lob on the rebound swirls over the bar.
20 mins: Odegaard hooks a pass left to Martinelli, before Arsenal work it backwards through midfield, all the way back to David Raya.
17 mins: Trossard has another go from the edge of the area which flies high over the bar. The assist for his goal goes to Odegaard, who got a faint touch on Saka’s pass. They all count.
Odegaard carries the ball forward then finds Saka on the right. With the Ipswich defence back-pedalling, Saka crosses towards Odegaard. He lets the ball slip past him, but no matter – Trossard is there to poke it beyond Alex Palmer as he topples backwards.
GOAL! Ipswich 0-1 Arsenal (Trossard 14)
Liverpool fans, this might not be the day. Leandro Trossard prods home to give Arsenal the lead!
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13 mins: Enciso continues to carry the fight for Ipswich, nicking the ball away from Rice in the Arsenal half, but just failing to pick the right pass with options on either side.
12 mins: Arsenal hold off another venture upfield from Enciso, and Martinelli sees off the danger by drawing a foul from Ben Johnson.
11 mins: Saka feeds Merino, who tumbles over under pressure. No free kick, but Odegaard is quick to pick up the loose ball, trying to scoop it into Martinelli’s path. He can’t get it under control, though, and it bobbles away for a goal kick.
9 mins: Enciso leads an Ipswich attack, then cuts in from the left and shoots for goal. Ben White blocks his effort, with the ball possibly striking his elbow – but his arms were down in the “natural position”.
7 mins: Remember, an Arsenal defeat here opens the door for Liverpool to win the title today. It’s not looking likely so far, with the visitors dominating possession and already pinning Ipswich back.
5 mins: An Ipswich through ball has the home fans halfway out of their seats, but David Raya races out to get to the ball ahead of George Hirst. Arsenal break quickly and Trossard’s snap shot is deflected behind.
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4 mins: Odegaard already conducting things for Arsenal, trying to play in Saka on the right and then looking for Martinelli, who cuts inside but lets the ball slip past him.
2 mins: Martinelli hooks in a cross from the left, but Ipswich deal with it comfortably enough.
1 mins: Arsenal, in their red and white home kit, have spent the first 90 seconds sweeping the ball around their own half.
Kick off
Here we go…
A blast of “Insomnia” over the PA, a spray of dry ice, and Ipswich players stride out in their oversized Umbro jackets. Big 90s vibes.
The Arsenal players are lined up in the tunnel, with Martin Odegaard having a nice chat with the mascot standing next to him.
“I fear for Ipswich back in the Championship, without recent experience of opening the Premier League parachute,” writes Jeremy Boyce. “In that respect, Leicester and Southampton might be better-placed to bounce back up next season.”
Arteta has made three changes from that game at the Bernabéu; both full-backs are rotated, with Zinchenko and White replacing Lewis-Skelly and Timber. Leo Trossard replaces Thomas Partey, which means Mikel Merino will likely drop into midfield.
Meanwhile, Liam Delap is still not ready to start after a rib injury, and starts on the Ipswich bench with George Hirst continuing up front.
Mikel Arteta is asked how important today’s game is after the Champions League win over Real Madrid: “Very important. Now we have to focus on the Premier League, show that we can be consistent. Some results have slipped away from us, that’s the Premier League, and it’ll be a tough match today. They make it difficult for opponents, they are organised and also have an attacking threat.”
Ipswich and Arsenal’s most famous meeting came in the 1978 FA Cup final, where Bobby Robson’s boys earned a 1-0 victory at Wembley. Roger Osborne’s winner came after Ipswich had hit the woodwork three times; a dominant upset, if you will.
Here’s Nick Ames on reasons for Ipswich to be cheerful, despite their imminent return to the Championship.
Team news
Ipswich (4-2-3-1): Palmer; Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Johnson, Enciso, Clarke; Hirst.
Subs: Walton, Woolfenden, Chaplin, Jack Taylor, Burgess, Delap, Luongo, Godfrey, Boniface.
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Zinchenk; Rice, Merino, Ødegaard; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Partey, Timber, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji, Henry-Francis, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri.
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Preamble
On a different timeline, where a handful of this season’s Premier League results were reversed, this is a massive game in both the title race and relegation battle. Sadly, in this universe, Ipswich – despite being the best of the three promoted sides this term – are 14 points from safety and doomed to a swift Championship return.
Arsenal, on the other hand, are the league’s second-best team – 13 points behind leaders Liverpool. Champions League glory is undoubtedly their focus now, rather than keeping a lukewarm title race ticking over. If they lose here, the party could start for Liverpool this afternoon. In the more likely event of an Arsenal win, Ipswich will need snookers to beat the drop.
So, not the massive Easter match-up it might have been, but still potentially a very significant fixture between two teams who’ve kept us entertained this term. We’ll also keep you updated on Fulham v Chelsea, and Man Utd v Wolves. Join me…
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