Arsenal vs Ipswich prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2024-12-26 20:15.
[p]With 16 of the 32 teams to top the table on Christmas Day going on to ultimately win the title, history would suggest third-place Arsenal have no more than a 50% chance of overthrowing the six-point gap to Liverpool. The Gunners themselves account for four of the failures to lift the trophy after leading at Christmas, so they know first hand that the title race is far from run, and a 5-1 win away to Crystal Palace at the weekend ensured they didn’t lose further ground. [/p]
[p]That win in South London came at a cost though, as Bukayo Saka was forced off with an injury that had boss Mikel Arteta “pretty worried”. Losing their talisman ahead of a busy festive period certainly isn’t ideal preparation for a first league meeting with Ipswich Town since April 2002, but Arsenal will still be highly fancied at home, where they’re unbeaten this season in all competitions (W10, D3) and haven’t lost in 41 Premier League games against newly-promoted sides (W36, D5). [/p]
[p]After losing 4-0 at home to Newcastle United at the weekend, a trip to face title-chasing Arsenal certainly wouldn’t have been high on Kieran McKenna’s Christmas wish list. That’s the reality Ipswich face, but hitting the road may not necessarily be a bad thing given they’ve averaged one point per game in Premier League away matches this season, as opposed to just 0.44 at home – their 0.56 differential is the biggest in the league in favour of playing away. [/p]
[p]The Tractor Boys have actually won two of their last three away league games too, and one of them came not too far from here, a 2-1 win at Tottenham in mid-November. Naturally, travelling to Arsenal represents a completely different proposition, highlighted none more so than their terrible record in away H2Hs since August 1979 (W0, D4, L7). [/p]
[p]Key battle: Saka’s injury may see Arsenal become more reliant on Gabriel Martinelli, who has seen five of his last six home league goals arrive after the hour mark. Ipswich keeper Arijanet Muric will be trying to keep him out, but he’s made more errors leading to goals than any other player in the Premier League this term (five). [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Arsenal are one of two Premier League clubs not to have trailed a home game at half-time this season (HT: W5, D3). [/p]
[p][i]Written by Chris Wilson[/i][/p]