Arsenal player ratings vs Ipswich: Max Dowman dazzles but £55m man gets 2/10 | OneFootball

Gunners shone in Suffolk but one man had a dismal evening

Arsenal breezed into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 4-2 win over Ipswich at Portman Road.

The match was effectively put to bed as a contest with barely 15 minutes on the clock, by which point Max Dowman had danced his way into the box to open the scoring and Noni Madueke doubled the lead.

Dowman added his second after the break and Mikel Merino made it four with a strike off the post from outside the area.

Consolation strikes from Anis Mehmeti and Chuba Akpom, against his former club, did little to dampen the Arsenal mood.

Here is how Standard Sport rated the Arsenal players...

Kepa Arrizabalaga 6

Not really troubled until Mehmeti beat him when Arsenal were 4-0 up, with the Spaniard unable to stick out a leg in time. Will be frustrated not to have kept a clean sheet on a comfortable night.

Asked to fill in at right-back and did a decent job until Clarke skipped past him far too easily for Ipswich’s goal. Otherwise confident in possession and clever poked pass for Dowman’s second.

Marli Salmon 7

Big learning experience. Some real positives, with a great block on the line to deny Flemming and a driving run into midfield, but also caught out at times when he was almost too relaxed. Huge potential is obvious.

Gabriel 7

Rock solid in his 45 minutes on the pitch, encouraging and marshalling Salmon alongside him. Slid in well to stop Philogene getting a shot away and covered nicely with Arsenal more open than usual in midfield.

Myles Lewis-Skelly 7

Returned to left-back but had the freedom to drift into the midfield positions he prefers. Kept Arsenal ticking over and nobody had more touches than him. Not as all-action as Merino and Guimaraes but did his job.

Bruno Guimaraes 8

Bullied the Ipswich players, with his pressing leading to Madueke’s goal. Adds so much intent to the midfield, always looking for the penetrating pass. Assisted Merino’s strike and pushed his case for Premier League starts.

Mikel Merino 9

Captain for the night and led the way by dominating the midfield. Strong in the duels and danced around the challenge. Brilliant pass under pressure set up Madueke’s goal and got one of his own with a classy finish.

Noni Madueke 8

Big improvement to see that emphatic finish when the ball dropped to him in the box. Looked really sharp and direct and decision-making was better. Nearly had an assist when a lovely turn and cross just evaded Gyokeres.

Max Dowman 9

Special performance from a special talent. Ridiculous composure for both of his finishes, particularly the first when sitting down Kipre. Utterly fearless and Ipswich could not live with him.

Eberechi Eze 5

Wasted his opportunity to impress. Did not offer the same intensity as those around him and felt like he was lacking half a yard of sharpness. Isolated on that wing with Lewis-Skelly largely playing centrally.

A spectator. One tame shot was all he managed and it can’t keep being put down to a lack of service. Not enough willingness to make the runs and force his way into space in the box. Touch was terrible when he did get the ball.

Substitutes:

Ezri Konsa (Gabriel 46’) 5

Did not get a foot in quickly enough for either of Ipswich’s goals. Lost the ball carelessly too, to play Arsenal into trouble.

Theo Julienne (Guimaraes 64’) 6

Allowed Zubimendi to slot into midfield and did a solid job out wide. Good to see the 18-year-old get minutes.

Christos Tzolis (Eze 76’) 7

Looked desperate to make an impression. Almost forced a strike past Walton at his near post.

Martin Odegaard (Madueke 76’) 6

Surprise to see Arteta bring his captain on at 4-1 rather than give him the night off, but coasted through the closing stages.