Arsenal 1–0 Ipswich Town: 

Kai Havertz’ goal on 23 minutes was enough to beat Ipswich Town and ease Arsenal into second place.

While Kieran McKenna’s side deserved praise for a battling display in which the Gunners could never fully relax, a deserved victory moved the North Londoners to within six points of Liverpool in top spot, albeit with a game in hand.

The Gunners started the match without influential talisman Bukayo Saka - Leandro Trossard taking the 23-year-old’s place – after the England international picked up a hamstring injury during the 5-1 rout of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last time out, which, according to boss Mikel Arteta’s dispiriting admission, will keep the former Hale End graduate out for “many weeks.”

As the games come thick and fast – Arsenal face 10 testing matches that could define their season, in a mere 34 days – Arteta must also deal with the absence of Raheem Sterling, as well as long-term casualties Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Ipswich for their part were missing the suspended Sam Morsy, with Manchester City loanee Kalvin Phillips taking his place, as Kieran McKenna’s side aimed to drag themselves out of the relegation zone with a win.

Ipswich nearly scored moments after the start, when Leif Davis’ early deflected cross caught Gabriel flat-footed at the back, but Liam Delap failed to get enough purchase on the ball to make it count.

However, seasoned Town observers would have been fully aware of the daunting task that awaited them, with Arteta’s side showing excellent form since the November international break, with seven wins and two draws in all competitions.

The visitors from Suffolk saw their hopes subside as fast as the North London mist rolled across the stadium, when Havertz ghosted home from close range on 23 minutes after Trossard’s driving run against Ben Johnson along the left flank perfectly teed up the Gunners No19. Even if questions had to be asked about porous Ipswich defending.

Gabriel could have extended the Gunners just after the hour mark but his downward header from Rice’s cross somehow bounced up and over Muric’s bar. It was Martin Odegaard’s turn to be denied on 72 minutes when his mazy run ended with Muric tipping over his powerful shot. William Saliba then had a rasping effort blocked from the resulting corner as Arsenal aimed to press home their dominance.

Moments later, Havertz failed to make sufficient contact with Odegaard’s clever header into his path, as Muric blocked again. Muric then blocked substitute Mikel Merino’s effort shortly afterwards.