It was the first match for Arsenal after their biggest star, Bukayo Saka, was injured. The 23-year-old England representative suffered a right hamstring injury and will not play for several weeks (according to the English media, the break will last from 4 to 6 weeks). Saka played 24 games this season, scored 9 goals and had 13 assists. On Friday evening, he was replaced by Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli on the right wing. However, the Polish representative did not appear on the pitch – Jakub Kiwior. He spent the entire match on the bench.
Only one goal in the Arsenal match. His strongest weapons failed him
The hosts clearly dominated in the first half. They had as much as 83 percent. possession of the ball, they took four shots, and their opponents, who are in penultimate place in the Premier League (only 12 points), none! However, Arsenal documented their great advantage by scoring only one goal. In the 23rd minute, after a team effort from the left side of the penalty area, Leandro Trossard received the ball, passed Benjamin Johnson and passed to Kai Havertz, who just put his foot in from three meters and shot it into the net. It was the German striker's seventh Premier League goal this season.
In the second half, the hosts dominated (they fired 9 shots, more than twice as many as before the break), but they were unable to score the second goal for a long time. Gabriel, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice missed good opportunities. This time, Arsenal couldn't score a goal from their strong element – set pieces. This season they scored eight times from corner kicks and twice from free kicks. Ipswich, a team that returned to the Premier League this season after 22 years, in match He didn't shoot a single shot on goal!
After this win, Arsenal became the new runner-up of the Premier League. He has 36 points, six less than the leader Liverpoolbut also one more match played. On January 1, Mikel Arteta's team will face Brentford away. Ipswich will host Chelsea on December 30 (8:45 p.m.).
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Another Friday Premier League match: Brighton – Brentford resulted in a goalless draw. Jakub Modera midfielder of the Polish national team and Brighton, although this time he was in the match squad, did not appear on the pitch for the seventh match in a row in the Premier League.