Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich Town: Havertz strike sends Gunners second

Kai Havertz scored the only goal as Arsenal climbed to second in the Premier League table with a narrow 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town.

The German’s seventh strike of the season proved enough for the hosts at the Emirates Stadium, while condemning their opponents to a fifth defeat in six matches.

Arsenal broke the deadlock midway through the first half with Havertz in the right place to turn in Leandro Trossard’s inviting cross.

Gabriel Magalhaes saw a golden opportunity go begging when he headed wide from three yards out just after the hour mark, but the Gunners were untroubled as they eased to victory.

Mikel Arteta’s side leapfrog Chelsea and Nottingham Forest to go second, six points behind leaders Liverpool – albeit having played an additional game.

Ipswich, meanwhile, remain 19th, three points adrift of 17th-placed Wolves.

7 – No side has kept more clean sheets (7) or conceded fewer goals (16) in the Premier League this season than Arsenal, while the Gunners have kept a shutout in four successive home matches in the competition for the first time since December 2021. Mentality. pic.twitter.com/zRcZ2RrA4A

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 27, 2024

Data Debrief: Four straight home shutouts for the Gunners

No side has kept more clean sheets (seven) or conceded fewer goals (16) in the Premier League this season than Arsenal, while they have now registered four successive home clean sheets in the league for the first time since December 2021.

Havertz settled the contest with his sixth goal in his last seven Premier League appearances against newly promoted opposition, while Arsenal have now won their last 13 home games against such opponents.

As for Ipswich, they recorded just three shots. Of the seven occasions of a side managing three or fewer attempts in a Premier League game this season, three have been against Arsenal, all this month (also Fulham and Everton, two shots each).