Arsenal XI vs Ipswich: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Premier League game today | OneFootball

Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard both return to Mikel Arteta’s first-choice side with Bukayo Saka out

Saka could be out until March after tearing his hamstring in last weekend’s 5-1 win against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

It remains to be seen exactly how Arteta plans to replace Saka, who has scored nine goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions so far this season, but the Gunners will need to get creative because Raheem Sterling is also out with a knee injury.

Gabriel Martinelli appears to be again operating against Ipswich on the right, where he played when Saka went off at Palace. Leandro Trossard comes in down the left.

Bukayo Saka will be out “for many weeks” in a huge blow for Arsenal

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“We have to look internally at what we have and be creative,” said Arteta this week. “It’s a good exercise again of how can we mould the squad, how can we adapt to the circumstances and how can we be different.

“We’re not going to be the same. We’re going to be different. Try and find the best way to do it and win games.”

Gabriel Jesus keeps his place at the head of the Arsenal attack, which means Arteta also faced a dilemma over what to do with Kai Havertz.

Havertz played in midfield against Palace but Arsenal lacked control there. Declan Rice does come back in tonight, but it’s Thomas Partey who drops out instead of Havertz.

In defence, the fit-again Riccardo Calafiori remains playing second fiddle to young Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back for the time being. Oleksandr Zinchenko is back on the bench after a calf injury, but Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are still out.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Odegaard, Havertz, Trossard, Martinelli, Jesus

Subs: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Calafiori, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Partey, Merino, Nwaneri

Injured: Saka (hamstring), Sterling (knee), Tomiyasu (knee), White (knee)

Time and date: 8:15pm GMT on Friday December 27, 2024

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Referee: Darren England