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.
Arteta’s selection issues going into the match on Friday evening must be overcome. Here’s who football.london 's Arsenal writers are hoping for him to pick against Ipswich Town.
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.
Kaya Kaynak
It's probably quite harsh on Myles Lewis-Skelly but I'm bringing Riccardo Calafiori back in at left-back. The 18-year-old has done superbly in recent matches deputising and I think he's now a genuine option in the role. The Italian just has a bit more experience and stature to deal with Ipswich's main threat in former Gunner Omari Hutchinson.
In midfield, Declan Rice simply has to start. The only question is where? He was outstanding in the left-eight position at Palace, but personally, I'd choose to drop him back to No.6 for this one.
That's because I don't see the point of two defensive midfielders at home to a newly promoted side. Arsenal went all-out attack with Havertz and Odegaard in midfield against Palace. It was great fun and I want to see it again.
I'm sticking with Gabriel Jesus up top, and my replacement for Bukayo Saka in this match is Gabriel Martinelli. I thought he looked good on the right against Palace, so I'm putting him there and bringing Leandro Trossard in on the left.
Kaynak's Arsenal XI vs Ipswich: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Martinelli, Jesus, Trossard.