Mikel Arteta’s side launches their trophy hunt against a resilient Ipswich Town, aiming to avenge last year’s final heartbreak while avoiding a cup upset at Portman Road.
Arsenal will face fellow Premier League side Ipswich Town at Portman Road in the 3rd Round of the Carabao Cup it has been confirmed after tonight’s draw.
Arsenal will be looking to go one better than last season and win the trophy this season, having got to the final in the 2025/26 edition, eventually losing 0-2 to Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. Arsenal kickstarted their campaign last season with a 0-2 victory over Port Vale at the same stage, before defeating Brighton and Crystal Palace to set up a semi-final meeting with Chelsea in which The Gunners went on to win 4-2 on aggregate, before falling to then Pep Guardiola’s side in the Final in March earlier this year.
The Gunners' previous meetings with Ipswich town were when the Tractor Boys were last in the top flight, beating them 1-0 at Emirates Stadium and 0-4 in the return fixture at Portman Road in the 2024/25 season, in which the side from Suffolk were eventually relegated from the Premier League after finishing in 19th place on 22 points.
Mikel Arteta bellows instructions from the touchline as Arsenal start the 2026/27 campaign with a 3-0 victory over Coventry City at Emirates Stadium (Action Images via Reuters)
Mikel Arteta bellows instructions from the touchline as Arsenal start the 2026/27 campaign with a 3-0 victory over Coventry City at Emirates Stadium (Action Images via Reuters)
The two sides have met 62 times in their history, with Arsenal having the better of the fixture over the years. The Gunners have won 32, whilst 11 games have ended in draws and 18 have gone in favour of Ipswich. Whilst this game is no different with Arsenal being firm favourites to progress to Round 4, the visit to come up against Gary O’Neils side cannot be taken lightly. The Tractor Boys registered a superb 2-1 victory over Sunderland in the opening weekend of The Premier League season, taking all 3 points against the odds in their first game back in the ‘big time’, before defeating League One outfit Leicester City 3-1 to book their place in the 3rd Round of the competition. The boys in blue have already been showing their attacking prowess this season, having scored 5 goals in their opening two competitive fixtures so far. This is certainly a potential banana skin for Mikel Arteta’s side and it is set to be a game that the Spaniard will not be taking lightly, in his quest to ‘attack’ all four trophies on offer this season.
The fixture is set to be played in the week commencing 7th September 2026. There will be no replays and the tie will be settled on penalties if level after the initial 90 minutes.