Arsenal ensured Liverpool could not win the Premier League title on Sunday as they breezed to a 4-0 win at 10-player Ipswich, whose relegation is all but assured.
Mikel Arteta named eight of the team who beat Real Madrid in the Bernabeu on Wednesday night, including a first Premier League start for Bukayo Saka since December 21. And the Gunners scored two goals down Saka’s flank inside the first 28 minutes.
For the first, Saka’s cutback from the right was touched on by Martin Odegaard to Leandro Trossard, who poked home. The second was pretty much identical as Mikel Merino flicked another delivery on to Gabriel Martinelli, who could not miss from a few yards out.
It got easier for Arsenal, as Leif Davis raked down Saka’s Achilles to receive a straight red card from Chris Kavanagh, with VAR agreeing with the call.
Saka was then booed on every touch by the Ipswich fans – but the Arsenal winger ended an eventful first half by missing three big chances inside the box. He was then taken off before the hour mark and received treatment on the same leg that Davis challenged.
Saka came off before the hour mark and received treatment on his Achilles
Both teams played the second half at near-walking pace, though Arsenal did up the ante at a corner from which came their third goal. The Gunners went short through Declan Rice and Odegaard, the former slipping in Trossard who found the net for his second.
After Odegaard had hit the post and as the clock ticked towards stoppage time, Arsenal substitute Ethan Nwaneri came off the bench to score the fourth and final goal via a double deflection.
The two second-half goals summed up Ipswich’s lack of motivation and the harsh reality they now face. Wolves’ win at Manchester United means they are now 15 points from safety with only 15 points able to be won, with a much worse goal difference than 17th-placed West Ham.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are now 10 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, who now cannot win the title until Wednesday evening at the earliest.
WATCH: All of Arsenal’s goals
Leandro Trossard scored in the 14th minute to put Arsenal ahead
Martinelli doubled Arsenal’s lead after a lovely flick-assist from Mikel Merino
Trossard scored his second goal to put Arsenal 3-0 up
Ethan Nwaneri scores Arsenal’s fourth goal
Analysis: 4-4-2? Has Arteta hinted at PSG plan?
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz:
Bukayo Saka started, Thomas Partey was on the bench. Mikel Arteta sent a message in his team selection at Ipswich – he’s preparing for PSG.
Partey’s suspension for the Champions League semi-final first leg was the one negative note in the conquest of Real Madrid – and this line-up hinted at how Arsenal will approach that huge last-four encounter on April 29.
When Arsenal beat PSG 2-0 in October, they played a 4-4-2 formation with Leandro Trossard partnering Kai Havertz up front. Trossard played the same role in this game against Ipswich – with Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard rotating in the other forward role – and the Belgian starred with two goals.
But it was not just Trossard, Arsenal’s entire front four strutted their stuff. Merino’s slick flick for Gabriel Martinelli’s goal was his 10th goal involvement in 13 games since being manifested into a striker.
The system suited Saka and Odegaard too. Both players created five chances each – the most out of any player on the pitch.
Arsenal’s front four in this 4-4-2 set-up was too much for Ipswich. The two questions are: will it be used to face PSG – and can it win again there?
