Here is how football.london rated the Arsenal performances against Ipswich Town at Portman Road
Max Dowman scores twice for Arsenal against Ipswich Town
Max Dowman scores twice for Arsenal against Ipswich Town(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Arsenal soared past Ipswich Town in style and scored for fun for the second game running at Portman Road.
The Gunners took the lead early in the game, Max Dowman finding the net at the age of just 16 years old after shimmying his way through and into the box before scoring. Not long after they doubled the lead, pressure on goalkeeper Christian Walton led to a mistake, which Mikel Merino helped capitalise on for Noni Madueke to score.
Dowman’s second came early in the second half, slotting in coolly after being fed in one-on-one inside the box. Merino then added his first of the season, curling a shot in off the post from the edge of the box.
Anis Mehmeti pulled a goal back to give the home side something to cheer about and Mikel Arteta a defensive question mark to analyse. The Gunners progress to the fourth round once again, with the draw set to take place on Wednesday.
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Here is how football.london rated the performances:
Kepa Arrizabalaga – Commanded his box really well in the first half, a great punch out from a corner which will have settled the nerves. Wrong-footed for the Ipswich goal. 6
Martin Zubimendi – An unorthodox role for the Spaniard at right-back, but he was able to float into the midfield, where he typically does his best work. Lovely dinked pass into the path of Dowman for his second goal. Was beaten a bit too easily for the Ipswich goal. 7
Marli Salmon – Really good performance from the youngster who did not look out of place at all. Just a couple rough edges, to be expected, but was great in his passing, movement and decision-making. 7
Gabriel – Had to step up with his junior partner alongside him and did well to bail him out on a couple of occasions. Only got the half but made his mark. 7
Myles Lewis-Skelly – A calm influence from left-back role but he popped up centrally so often it was hard to pin down a constant position. 7
Bruno Guimaraes – Great sliding challenge which led to the second goal and provided plenty of progressive passes in the game. A sign of things to come for the Gunners as he fights Lewis-Skelly for a midfield role. 7
Mikel Merino – Beautiful chipped pass over the top for Madueke’s goal and then added a goal himself, with a pinpoint shot off the post. 8
Max Dowman – What a perfect start to his season, a first senior appearance and a first goal this campaign, brilliant strike and run too. His second goal a silky and calm finish which looked like he’d done it a hundred times before. 9
Noni Madueke – His first goal of the season was a great finish, smashing a half-volley into the back of the net. Faded as the game went on. 7
Viktor Gyokeres – If this was a chance for the Swede to show why he should be getting in ahead of Kai Havertz, this was not it. A sole shot, one more than he had against Napoli, which trickled into the keeper’s arms. 3
Eberechi Eze – Jury remains out about whether Eze can fulfil the requirements on the left, and he just cannot quite have the desired impact. This was not the best display from him. 5
Substitutions:
Ezri Konsa – Came on and was perhaps caught a little cold for Ipswich’s goal, with Mehmeti free in the area. Lost the ball in a dangerous area, playing on the left, he didn’t look too comfortable there. Was caught late by a free Akpom in the middle for the former Arsenal man's goal. 4
Theo Julienne – A great opportunity for another Arsenal youngster to get some minutes after some chances in pre-season. 5
Martin Odegaard – Came on to help see out the victory, moving Dowman the right wing. 6
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Christos Tzolis – Soon after coming on his hit the post with a left-footed shot. Far stronger with the use of his weaker foot compared to Eze. 6
Ife Ibrahim - Came on late in the game for his senior debut. n/a
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