Kai Havertz's first half goal proved the difference as a stubborn Ipswich Town lost 1-0 at title-chasing Arsenal. The German striker side-footed in from close-range in the 23rd minute, following Leandro Trossard's low cross, to finally break down the resistance of a deep-lying and organised Blues outfit happy to defend their goal. Town, who had just 16% possession in the first period, showed more ambition after the restart but lacked quality in the rare moments they reached the final third.
Arsenal should have wrapped their win up sooner when Gabriel Magalhaes headed a golden chance wide at a corner. The result lifts the Gunners back up to second in the Premier League table. Ipswich, meanwhile, stay 19th, two points behind Leicester and three behind Wolves following the latter's Boxing Day win against Manchester United.
Kieran McKenna made five changes to the team that had started the 4-0 home defeat to Newcastle six days earlier. Jacob Greaves, Luke Woolfenden, Ben Johnson, Kalvin Phillips and Liam Delap – available again after serving a one-match suspension – came in for Harry Clarke, Cameron Burgess, Sam Morsy (serving a one game ban), Wes Burns and Conor Chaplin. That meant a switch to the more pragmatic 3-4-3 / 5-2-3 system that underpinned the 2-1 victory at Tottenham back in early November.
It was Woolfenden’s first start since the home loss to Everton (Oct 19), Greaves’ second start since the away loss at West Ham (Oct 5), only the seventh start of a stop-star.