Arsenal returned to winning ways on Sunday with a strong 4-0 win against Ipswich Town at Portman Road, keeping Liverpool from being crowned Premier League champions — at least for now.
The Gunners had gone three league games without a win, but a brilliant performance from Leandro Trossard, who scored twice, helped them take all three points. Gabriel Martinelli and 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri also got on the scoresheet.
Arsenal’s dominance was clear from the start. They had almost 90 percent of the ball in the early part of the game and broke the deadlock in the 14th minute.
Captain Martin Odegaard started the move, Bukayo Saka crossed low, and Trossard finished calmly into the corner.
In the 28th minute, Martinelli doubled the lead after Saka beat his marker and passed to Mikel Merino, who back-heeled the ball into Martinelli’s path. The Brazilian smashed the ball past Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer.
The match became even harder for Ipswich when Leif Davis was sent off in the 32nd minute for a rough tackle on Saka.
Despite the scare, Saka got back up and continued playing until he was taken off in the second half to rest for Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
Trossard scored his second goal of the day in the 69th minute after receiving a pass from Declan Rice and finishing into the far corner.
With two minutes left in normal time, teenager Ethan Nwaneri added a fourth, scoring with a deflected shot inside the box.
Speaking after the game, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised his team. “We showed good energy and control. It was important to get back to winning ways, and now we focus on PSG,” he said.
Trossard, who was named player of the match, said, “I always try to give my best, and I’m happy to help the team today. We want to finish strong.”
The result means Liverpool still need six more points from their remaining six games to win the league. Arsenal stay in second place, 10 points behind them.
For Ipswich, the defeat brings them closer to relegation. Coach Kieran McKenna admitted before the match that survival was unlikely. With only five games left and 15 points away from safety, the newly-promoted side may be heading back to the Championship.
Arsenal fans now turn their attention to Europe, where they face PSG in the Champions League semi-finals — their first time reaching that stage since 2009.
