By Tony Attwood
- Ipswich v Arsenal, injuries and the need for more of a gap
- Ipswich v Arsenal and more thoroughly shocking referee figures
- Ipswich v Arsenal: the preview and the days of scoring five (or more)
Let’s start with a bit of old-boy news. Aaron Ramsey has got the job of being Cardiff City manager following the departure of Omer Riza. Aaron joined Cardiff on 15 July 2023, and as manager, his first match is their game against Oxford United. He started his job by praising the fans, saying ” I’m really looking forward to seeing our fans getting right behind the team and playing their part.”
We shall watch with interest.
And elsewhere in one amusing aptronym (and yes that is a real word – you might like to make a note of it): Nicky Butt of Manchester United infamy has been cautioned by police for head-butting a security guard. Should you be so inclined you can read more here.
Meanwhile the BBC as ever offer of few unexpected highlights such as the fact that “Ipswich Town have dropped a league-high 27 points from winning positions despite scoring the opening goal on 15 occasions.” So on that basis no one should worry too much if they score first. Especially since on only one occasion this year have they actually taken the lead and then gone on to win. And since they are currently in their longest home losing streak since 1963 – which was the same length as now. Today could break the record.
But losing 20 games in a season is not unusual for Ipswich. If they do lose today then that will be three times in the last six seasons.in the Premier League that they have achieved this.
On the other hand as you might remember Arsenal have only lost once since 2 November. And perhaps more to the point, Arsenal will be “the first team to play a league fixture on Easter Sunday in three consecutive years. They drew 2-2 with Liverpool in 2023 and 0-0 with Manchester City in 2024.” But then maybe not. That one is from the BBC.
The Evening Standard offer us this quote from the manager: “Jorgi is not going to be available yet, he is still struggling with that incident and Ricky as well probably is not going to be available.”
And then continuing with their own commentary they add, “In attack, Arteta may still be wary about Saka’s minutes given he only recently returned from his hamstring injury.”
And that leads on to their team selection…
Raya;
White, Saliba, Kiwior, Tierney;
Zinchenko, Partey, Merino;
Nwaneri, Trossard, Martinelli
Football-lineups go with
Raya;
Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Tierney;
Odegaard, Partey, Rice;
Saka, Merino, Martinelli
The issue of whether Saka plays or not, is of course a prime question: does he get risked for this game with more important matches ahead because the more he plays the more he gets back to his old form, or is he beached, for fear of another injury occurring?
Raya;
White, Saliba, Kiwior, Tierney;
Partey, Rice, Nwaneri;
Saka, Trossard, Sterling
Raya;
White, Saliba, Kiwior, Tierney;
Odegaard, Zinchenko, Rice;
Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard
And that I think sums it all up. I do hope in these various articles ahead of today’s game you have found at least one or two things of interest which can occupy your time before it all happens.
Indeed, if you have been, thank you for reading.
