Line-ups confirmed as Gunners look to close gap at top

Arsenal need a win at home to strugglers Ipswich to climb back into second place and move closer to Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Mikel Arteta’s side go into the Friday night match nine points behind the Reds – and have no room for error against the Tractor Boys.

How will the home side cope without Bukayo Saka on the wing?

Here’s how the sides line up:

Arsenal team news

Forward Gabriel Jesus has scored five goals in his last two games for Arsenal and starts up front, while Leandro Trossard steps into Bukayo Saka’s shoes.

Declan Rice is back and youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly again plays in defence.

🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️

💪 Lewis-Skelly continues at left-back
🔙 Rice returns to the starting XI
🪄 Trossard on the wing

Let’s do this, Gunners 👊

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 27, 2024

Arsenal XI: David Raya, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Gabriel Magalhães, William Saliba, Jurriën Timber, Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard

Ipswich team news

Ipswich may have started to find some form on the road but they have not won a game against a team in the top four of the Premier League since 1995 and have not won at Arsenal since Sir Bobby Robson was in charge in 1979.

Kalvin Phillips gets a chance in midfield as Sam Morsy is suspended.

Your Blues in the capital. 🫡#ARSIPS | @Nustone_UK pic.twitter.com/GYhH7UxvQQ

— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) December 27, 2024

Ipswich XI: Arijanet Muric, Leif Davis, Jacob Greaves, Luke Woolfenden, Dara O’Shea, Jens Cajuste, Kalvin Phillips, Sam Szmodics, Omari Hutchinson, Ben Johnson, Liam Delap