Arsenal followed the high of their dismantling of Real Madrid in the Champions League with a straight-forward victory over Ipswich Town.
Mikel Arteta’s side face Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals and used the Premier League game at Portman Road, against a side close to relegation, to field a strong side which featured eight of the side who started at the Bernabeu.
That brought the advantage of minutes for Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard up front and a midfield with Declan Rice at No 6 and Mikel Merino in front, but also brought risks, as shown by the foul on Saka that resulted in a red card for Ipswich’s Leif Davis.
Trossard gave Arsenal the lead after a dominant start finishing after a driving run from Martin Odegaard and cutback from Saka. Gabriel Martinelli then doubled the lead with his 50th goal for Arsenal before Davis was shown a red card for a foul on Saka. Trossard added a third and Ethan Nwaneri a fourth in the second half.
With Crystal Palace at home on Wednesday before the first leg against PSG on April 29, Arteta will be hoping for a similarly comfortable match.
Jordan Campbell analyses the action from Portman Road.
How much risk and reward for Arteta (and Saka)?
Saka coming off after 57 minutes would usually be a cause for concern if you are an Arsenal fan, but on this occasion it brought a sigh of relief.
This was just his sixth game back after a three-month hamstring lay-off. He showed over the two legs against Real Madrid that he does not need long to rediscover his sharpness but, given they are so far behind Liverpool, every league game feels like a risk with a Champions League semi-final against PSG awaiting them in nine days.
Another start was good for Saka’s fitness but a reckless tackle from Davis in the first half, which saw him shown a straight red card, highlighted the danger.
The Ipswich full-back looked like he lost patience with Saka’s ability to hold him off with his back to goal and, as the Arsenal winger passed the ball, he trampled on his right Achilles. Saka’s ankle rolled over and it looked like it could have seriously injured him as he received treatment from the medical staff. He was able to continue but Arteta’s decision to take his star forward off shortly after half-time, so he could have ice applied to the area, felt like a wise one.
It was an isolated incident but Saka is often consistently fouled and there was no need to risk any further damage. The same went for Mikel Merino, who was taken off at the same time, before Martinelli and Declan Rice were also given a rest after 72 minutes.
The one area that felt worthwhile remaining untouched was William Saliba and Jakub Kiwior, who have to continue to gel and build chemistry in the absence of Gabriel Magalhaes.
What does this landmark moment mean for Martinelli?
Martinelli’s 15 goals and five assists in 2022-23 was an incredible return for a 21-year in only his third full season in English football, but it has undoubtedly cast a shadow over his last two seasons.
The Brazilian has been unable to recapture that form or deliver the same end product but his goal took him beyond last season’s tally of six goals and four assists and to a half century of goals for the club he joined as a teenager in 2019.
Gabriel Martinelli is the fourth-youngest player in Arsenal’s history to score 5️⃣0️⃣ goals across all competitions:
Bukayo Saka – 22Y 159D Cesc Fàbregas – 23Y 134D Theo Walcott – 23Y 235D
Gabriel Martinelli – 23Y 306D
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 20, 2025
It makes him the fourth-youngest player in Arsenal’s history to reach 50 goals, behind only Saka, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott, a reminder that Martinelli still has his best years ahead of him.
He has had to switch to the right flank at times in Saka’s absence but since returning to the left flank in recent weeks, he has been decisive and playing with the same incision he did two years ago.
He timed his run to get on the end of Mikel Merino’s flick perfectly. It made it two goals in as many games after his breakaway goal to seal a memorable victory at the Bernabeu in midweek and he looked like a player who has regained that confidence in front of goal.
Arsenal’s best moves still came down the right flank but Martinelli is picking his moments to be direct and drive into space well. Now that Arsenal have their two main wingers back fit and firing it feels like Arsenal have their firepower and variety back.
How did Trossard’s audition at No 9 go?
Trossard had only managed two goals this calendar year but his double showed why he is still a viable option for Arteta as a makeshift striker.
Merino has been performing the role better than anyone could have hoped since stepping into Kai Havertz’s shoes but Trossard represents a different profile.
His movement as a false nine saw him link play and when he peeled out to the right flank to combine with Odegaard, White and Saka he was able to create overloads.
The Belgian has struggled for form in recent months but he is still arguably the best finisher at the club. He missed an early chance when he took two touches as opposed to taking the cut back on first time but he is at his best when he is instinctive, as he proved with his next two looks at goal.
He redeemed himself by producing two clever finishes, threading the ball through the legs of the defender on both occasions.
Merino dovetailed well with him, bursting forward from left eight position when Trossard dropped deeper. It gave Arsenal fluency to their attacks and allowed Arteta to experiment with both striking options on the pitch.
It is likely that Merino retains the number nine position for PSG but his awareness to find Trossard with a superb back heel is a contender for assist of the season. His skill set is so varied and he helped Arsenal counter-press to an exceptional level in the first-half with Declan Rice back at the base of midfield behind him.
What did Arteta say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for Arsenal?
Wednesday, April 23: Crystal Palace (Home), Premier League, 8pm UK, 3pm ET
(Top photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
