**Arsenal round off 2024 on Friday night when they take on the newly promoted Ipswich Town in the Premier League.**
The Gunners continued their unbeaten run after the November international with a pair of victories over Crystal Palace last week, but the mood was sombre after Saturday's 5-1 win over Crystal Palace as [news of Bukayo Saka's hamstring tear](https://paininthearsenal.com/arsenal-learn-extent-devastating-bukayo-saka-hamstring-injury) filtered through.
Saka has functioned like a one-man attack this season, and now's the time for his teammates to stand up and prolong Arsenal's title tilt.
Ipswich have won just twice in the Premier League upon their return to the top flight, but one of those triumphs did arrive in north London.
Here's the team Mikel Arteta could pick for Friday's game.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Ipswich
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Declan Rice was excellent off the bench on Saturday | Julian Finney/GettyImages
### Goalkeeper & Defenders
**David Raya (GK) -** The Spaniard was kept fairly busy at the weekend amid Arsenal's efficient victory in south London. Raya ensured the Gunners' win was a comfortable one.
**Jurrien Timber (RB) -** He's playing a hell of a lot of games, but Arteta doesn't have much choice. Timber's really good and there are no right-back alternatives outside of Thomas Partey.
**William Saliba (CB) -** Saliba had an off-day on Saturday but has been exceptional all season long. He'll want to end the year with a cleaner performance on Friday as he matches up against the impressive Liam Delap.
**Gabriel (CB) -** I wonder how the Brazilian will cope without Saka's inswinging delivery for the next couple of months. Either way, I don't think we'll see many teams leaving themselves short in the box with big Gab around. Arsenal were dominant from set-pieces again at the weekend.
**Riccardo Calafiori (LB) -** Myles Lewis-Skelly has done absolutely nothing wrong, but the ceiling of this Arsenal team involves a fit and firing Calafiori. He'll make his first start since 30 November on Friday.
### Midfielders
**Declan Rice (DM) -** That was a superb cameo on Saturday having missed the Carabao Cup win. Rice scored off the bench at Selhurst Park and is a sure bet to return to the XI against Ipswich.
**Mikel Merino (CM) -** We don't need Rice and Partey here, so there should be another chance for Merino to impress. I'd love to see the Spaniard get himself on the scoresheet. It seems like he's need a bit of a boost.
**Martin Odegaard (CM) -** Odegaard's lost his partner in crime, but now's the time for the skipper to grab this Arsenal team by the scruff of the neck. This is a huge couple of months for Odegaard.
### Forwards
**Gabriel Martinelli (RW) -** The Brazilian is poised to Saka alternative #1 for the time being given that he offered promise at the weekend and was used down the right on the final day of last season. Perhaps the newfound responsibility will be the making of him.
**Kai Havertz (ST) -** Still not a fan of him in midfield, and I'd be surprised if Havertz didn't return to a centre-forward position on Friday. We'll need a central/box presence.
**Gabriel Jesus (LW) -** It is Jesus' time of year, and we could really do with the Brazilian sustaining the [form he displayed against Crystal Palace for the next few weeks](https://paininthearsenal.com/gabriel-jesus-arsenal-rebirth-beauty-football-mikel-arteta-crystal-palace). Let's hope it's not a false dawn, eh?
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