3 standout players from Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Ipswich

You're still thinking about the bad news, aren't you?

Okay, I wouldn't go all Keith from The Office and suggest the "spirits were in the sky" after Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town on Friday night, but the vibes were very much of a positive frequency before Mikel Arteta opened his mouth post-match.

The dreaded Bukayo Saka update was always coming, but so soon after a win? Come on, Mikel. Let us down gently.

We're going to be without our leading light for a very long time, and his absence only increases the significance of performances/victories such as Friday night's over the Tractor Boys. We've got to stay in this title race for as long as we can.

Arsenal hardly sparkled to wrap up 2024, but the performance as a collective was measured and there were several standout performers. There were three who caught the eye.

1. Kai Havertz

Havertz has come in for some criticism over the past month, and his performance at the weekend didn't exactly instil much confidence that a return to a midfield function would pay dividends moving forward.

However, Arteta stuck with the German in the middle of the park and Havertz produced in best performance in quite some time.

He crashed the box and tapped home the game's only goal which was, of course, crucial, but his performance was impressive for reasons transcending his tap-in.

Havertz was here, there and everywhere. His tendency to float and pick gaps within the defensive structure allowed him to combine and drag Ipswich defenders away from their preferred defensive zones. He also helped Arsenal get up the pitch by winning aerial duels, but was intent on denying the visitors any time to breath immediately after possession was lost.

When Arteta signed Havertz ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, it was showings such as those produced in a midfield role on Friday night which the Spaniard envisaged to be the former Chelsea man's apex.

2. Myles Lewis-Skelly

The kid's got a swagger, doesn't he?

We were all getting caught up in Ethan Nwaneri fever, but Arsenal had another ready-made Hale End graduate waiting in the wings. Lewis-Skelly started again on Friday night with Riccardo Calafiori failing to get off the bench - a testament to the teenager's form since coming into Arteta's XI.

On Friday, Lewis-Skelly showed tons of personality when inverting infield from left-back. He always showed for and wanted the ball, with his steely frame allowing him to resist and roll challenges which opened up Ipswich's press.

He barely flinched when confronted by Kalvin Phillips in the second half and seemed to get under Liam Delap's skin before the break. We may have stumbled upon a sh*thouse, folks.

3. Declan Rice

I was initally frustrated with Rice on Friday, but after sound kip I've awoken with an alternate view.

Sure, Rice could've been braver with the ball at times and he perhaps needs to take more creative responsibility in these sorts of games given the position he occupied on the pitch. However, sustained pressure is the ideal for Arteta, which means retention and circulation are paramount.

Rice didn't force it and picked his moments to be progressive. Could he have threaded the needle once or twice more? Possibly, but we know the Englishman hasn't quite developed into that sort of holding midfielder just yet.

His supreme defensive ability once again came to the fore as his mere presence ensured Ipswich had very. few chances to counter. Rice was the heartbeat of a fierce counter-press which suffocated the visitors. 11 recoveries point towards a man who set out on extinguishing fires on Friday night.

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