Arsenal delivered a clinical 4-0 demolition of relegation-threatened Ipswich Town at Portman Road, keeping alive their faint Premier League title hopes and underlining their intent ahead of a blockbuster Champions League semi-final. Leandro Trossard struck twice, with Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri also on target, as Mikel Arteta’s side secured their first league win in three games and extended Ipswich’s home misery.
Coming off a sensational 5-1 aggregate triumph over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, the Gunners showed no signs of fatigue or complacency. Within 14 minutes, they were ahead, capitalizing on a mistake by Julio Enciso. Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka combined to feed Trossard, whose composed finish gave Arsenal an early lead. Fourteen minutes later, Martinelli made it two with a well-worked team goal involving Saka and Mikel Merino’s stylish backheel.
Ipswich’s already daunting task turned impossible when Leif Davis received a straight red card for a reckless lunge on Saka’s Achilles in the 32nd minute. Though Saka resumed play after initial concerns and was later substituted with an ice pack on his ankle, manager Mikel Arteta eased fears, confirming the injury was “nothing serious.”
Down to 10 men, Ipswich struggled to gain any foothold. Arsenal, in complete control, managed 75% possession and peppered the Ipswich box with relentless pressure. Trossard grabbed his second just before the 70-minute mark, capitalizing on a quick corner and Declan Rice’s clever pass to guide a precise finish into the bottom corner. Later on, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri sealed the rout with a deflected strike from inside the box, putting the final gloss on a dominant performance.
Despite the defeat, Ipswich temporarily avoided mathematical relegation, but with just five games left and a 15-point gap from safety, their return to the Championship looks inevitable. Kieran McKenna’s side suffered their seventh consecutive home defeat in 2025 and failed to muster a single goal in their last five meetings with Arsenal.
For Arsenal, the result ensured Liverpool couldn’t clinch the title at Leicester the next day. The Gunners remain 10 points behind the league leaders, but the win stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches away from home and boosted morale ahead of their Champions League semi-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
Arteta’s decision to field a strong XI, despite the grueling Madrid trip, paid off. With the Premier League title likely out of reach, attention now turns to Europe, where Arsenal are chasing their first Champions League trophy. After falling short to Manchester City in back-to-back seasons, Arsenal’s best chance at silverware lies in the continent’s biggest competition.
Arteta praised his team's dominant performance, especially the “intensity and control” of the first 35 minutes. With key players like Saka showing resilience and squad players like Trossard and Nwaneri stepping up, Arsenal looks primed for their biggest European challenge yet.
As for Ipswich, their Premier League dream appears all but over just a year after promotion.
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