A huge couple of wins last week helped Arsenal secure a semi-final place in the league cup and a record sixth five-plus goalscoring away win of the year to gain a big three points and close the gap to second-placed Chelsea. Now though comes the start of a very hectic period of the season as the end of 2024 precedes a busy start to 2025.
Mikel Arteta needs to navigate further injuries to his team as Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling suffer medium term injuries. While he welcomes back others, he needs to rotate and maintain consistency while also experimenting without his stars.
Tom Canton
A fair few days of rest and Arsenal have all the minerals to go for it against struggling Ipswich Town. Having put five past Crystal Palace, big things are expected even in the absence of Bukayo Saka.
I have picked a team who I feel it would be best placed considering a tricky trip to Brentford in just a few days. Therefore I have rested the likes of Riccardo Calafiori, Thomas Partey and Leandro Trossard.
The question of replacing Saka for me falls to a player who was not used enough while Martin Odegaard was out: Ethan Nwaneri. A left-footed, technical and quick attacking player… all the qualities that Saka of course possesses.
I think in this particular game it is worth the risk and elsewhere for me we can continue with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz both in the starting XI in their new roles. Goals need to be the order of the day as the Gunners focus solely on stringing together victories and worry less about the bigger picture for now.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Ipswich: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Havertz, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Jesus, Martinelli.
