O’Neil on Arsenal defeat: ‘We got heavily punished’
Ipswich Town's English manager Gary O'Neil watches the players from the touchline during the League Cup third Round football match between Ipswich Town and Arsenal at Portman Road in Ipswich, eastern England on September 15, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Gary O’Neil talked about a 4-2 defeat for Ipswich Town against Arsenal.
After conceding twice in the first nine minutes of the match against Liverpool and a second half to forget in a 5-2 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford, the manager wanted the hosts to show a different face at Portman Road in the third round of the Carabao Cup against one of the big boys.
·‘Similar to the Liverpool game’
But Max Dowman broke the deadlock after seven minutes, and a gamble from Christian Walton was eventually punished by Noni Madueke: the Premier League champions were 2-0 up in 16 minutes. Dowman then doubled his tally for the evening at the start of the second half, and Mikel Merino followed up on a dummy from the teenager to put the visitors four goals to the good.
Anis Mehmeti and former Gunner Chuba Akpom made the scoreline more respectable, but it was another example of a collapse against a ‘Big Six’ opponent being costly for the Tractor Boys.
“I thought we got heavily punished. It was a game that was made to look really one-sided by the scoreline, but probably wasn't really. We made a couple of mistakes. The first two shots ended up in the goal, and then they produced a couple of moments of quality in the second half to get to four.
“But I thought we looked a threat all night. I thought we should have probably scored more.
“It was a tough test with a group that hasn't played much, and I thought a lot of them came out, or all of them, came out with real credit. I thought they had the right go, stuck at it. It didn't feel like a 4-0 game at any point, but the quality that they have meant that it was.
“We found a way to fight our way back into it. Losing by two goals against them is not a dreadful effort. I’m disappointed that we didn't win because that's what we're here for, but lots of positives.
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IPSWICH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Anis Mehmeti of Ipswich Town scores a goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Ipswich Town and Arsenal at Portman Road on September 15, 2026 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
IPSWICH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Anis Mehmeti of Ipswich Town scores a goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Ipswich Town and Arsenal at Portman Road on September 15, 2026 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
“I think they're a good side defensively. They don't concede many chances at all, and we were still able to get through. We were still able to create problems for them. But we gave ourselves an uphill battle, obviously, conceding two as early as we did, similarly to the Liverpool game.
“It seems like, similar to the Liverpool game, two errors, two nil down, and then a mountain to climb.
“I’m disappointed with those. The second goal especially, just a bit of a lack of understanding. The first one's just a mistake, a misplaced pass. The second one is us trying to do the right things, but not quite getting it right.
“But then there was lots of good play to enjoy. I thought it was some really exciting stuff, some really good attacking stuff.
“We've managed to freshen a few up. We've managed to get some minutes into some. We've managed to have a good go against the best team around. Now we need to get ready for a big game at Everton at the weekend.”