Arsenal vs Ipswich: Prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h results, odds | OneFootball

Gunners must shake off Bukayo Saka injury blow as they host the Tractor Boys after Christmas

Arsenal will be strong favourites to make it three successive wins when they host Ipswich on Friday night, despite the injury to Bukayo Saka.

However, such a timely return to form has since been overshadowed by the injury to Saka, whom it is feared could be sidelined until March after tearing his hamstring in the second meeting with Palace.

The Tractor Boys have predictably found the going tough after back-to-back promotions in their first season at this level for some 22 years, winning just two of their first 17 matches under Kieran McKenna to sit 19th but only two points adrift of safety before the Boxing Day games.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Arsenal vs Ipswich is scheduled for an 8:15pm GMT kick-off on Friday December 27, 2024.

The match will take place at the Emirates Stadium in north London.

Where to watch Arsenal vs Ipswich

TV channel: The game will be broadcast live in the UK on Amazon Prime Video, with coverage beginning at 7pm GMT.

Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream online via the Amazon Prime Video website or app.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Simon Collings at the Emirates.

Arsenal vs Ipswich team news

As mentioned, Arsenal fear that Saka could be out until March with his hamstring tear, with Arteta admitting on Monday that he faces “many weeks” on the sidelines.

Compounding that situation is the fact that Raheem Sterling is also now out for several weeks with a knee issue sustained during training.

Oleksandr Zinchenko could return this week having not played since the start of the month, though Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain long-term absentees.

Major blow: Arsenal could be without Bukayo Saka until March due to a hamstring tear

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

For Ipswich, captain Sam Morsy is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in Saturday’s 4-0 home drubbing by Newcastle, though top scorer Liam Delap will return from his own one-match ban.

Massimo Luongo has been dealing with an illness of late, while Axel Tuanzebe, Chiedozie Ogbene and George Hirst are all still out.

Arsenal vs Ipswich prediction

Losing Saka for an extended period of time was a hammer blow to Arsenal’s title hopes, but they cannot spend any time feeling sorry for themselves as the fixtures continue to pile up over the busy festive period.

The contrasting natures of their back-to-back wins over Palace - not to mention Jesus’ long-awaited return to the scoresheet - should have done a lot for their confidence after being held to frustrating draws by both Fulham and Everton.

They should have far too much for an Ipswich team who were demolished by Newcastle, are missing their influential captain and likely face a real uphill task to consolidate their place in the Premier League this term.

However, Arsenal would still do well not to underestimate McKenna’s side, whose only two wins in the league so far this season have both come away from home - including with a shock triumph down the road at Tottenham back in November.

Arsenal to win, 3-0.

Head to head (h2h) history and results

Arsenal won 2-0 home and away the last time these two teams were in the same division back in the 2001/02 season, while they sealed a place in the then Carling Cup final with a 3-1 aggregate triumph over two legs in 2011. It has been 13 years since they last met.

Arsenal wins: 30

Ipswich wins: 18

Draws: 11

Arsenal vs Ipswich match odds

Arsenal to win: 2/17

Ipswich to win: 17/1

Draw: 8/1

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).