Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich: Player ratings as Gunners end 2024 with victory

Arsenal concluded 2024 with a 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Friday night.

Ipswich almost surrendered to their hosts in the opening stages, sinking into a deep 5-2-3 block and ceding total control to the Arsenal, who had to be patient. Bodies packed the Ipswich box, but the Gunners didn't take too long to find a way through.

Kai Havertz netted his seventh Premier League goal of the season from an unmissable distance, converting Leandro Trossard's excellent cross across the face of goal.

You might've thought that Arsenal would've been able to run up the score in the aftermath given how Kieran McKenna had set his side up, but Ipswich reverted to a more familiar pressing shape after falling behind and at least made the hosts work in the build-up phase.

The Gunners struggled to work openings for the remainder of the half, but Ipswich weren't given a sniff either.

There was similar sterile domination at the start of the second-half, with McKenna's remaining in the contest despite barely laying a glove on their hosts. While their bench was thin, Arsenal had plenty in the tank entering the closing stages, and they'd ought to have least doubled their lead. Havertz, Gabriel, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino all came close to confirming the Gunners' triumph, but no second goal arrived.

This 1-0 win was hardly laden with inspiration, but victories are all-important during this period. The year's ended on a high, although Arsenal could be nine points back from leaders Liverpool by the time they face Brentford on New Year's Day.

Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich player ratings

Goalkeeper & Defenders

David Raya (GK) - 6/10 - He'll have busier nights.

Jurrien Timber (RB) - 7/10 - Loved that driving run in the first half which resulted in a fierce shot from distance. Arsenal could've done with more of that across the board. Didn't see much of him in the final third, and would liked to have seen him combine with Gabriel Martinelli a little more.

William Saliba (CB) - 6/10 - A quiet night defensively for Saliba, who had a mixed night when put through his paces. Completed a lot of passes.

Gabriel (CB) - 6.5/10 - I have no idea how he didn't add to his goal tally. That was a gilt-edge miss to put the game to bed. The Brazilian had little defending to do.

Myles Lewis-Skelly (LB) - 7.5/10 - Testament to his recent form that he was included in the XI over Riccardo Calafiori. The teenager vindicated the manager's faith with another controlled performance full of impressive press resistance and personality.

Continued on the next slide...