Arsenal’s Perfect Start Faces Ipswich Test Amid Defensive Crisis

LONDON — Arsenal travel to Portman Road on Tuesday night to face Ipswich Town in the third round of the Carabao Cup, seeking to end a decades-long tournament drought while dealing with a mounting defensive injury crisis.

Ipswich have already shown their knockout capability this season by defeating Leicester City 3-1 in the second round. Gary O’Neil’s side also comes into the match after a dramatic 3-2 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday, sealed by Zian Flemming’s 90th-minute winner after Palace defender Axel Disasi was sent off in the first half.

The hosts have never reached a League Cup final, although they have upset Arsenal in this competition before. Championship-bound Ipswich won the first leg of the 2010/11 semi-finals 1-0 at Portman Road through a Tamas Priskin goal, but Arsenal overturned the deficit with a 3-0 victory in the return leg at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal’s latest win was a 2-0 Premier League victory over Sunderland on Saturday, with second-half goals from Bruno Guimaraes and Bukayo Saka. David Raya also saved a penalty from Enzo Le Fee after a controversial refereeing decision that Mikel Arteta later described as “unacceptable.”

That result extended Arsenal’s perfect record in the 2026/27 season to six wins from six competitive fixtures. Arteta’s side has conceded only two goals and kept five clean sheets, but the defensive strain increased when right-back Ben White sustained an injury against Sunderland.

William Saliba remains out with a back injury, while Cristhian Mosquera is highly doubtful for Tuesday’s match. Jurrien Timber, who recently returned from a long-term groin injury, may therefore be forced to start earlier than the coaching staff had planned.

Arteta is expected to manage the squad’s physical load by relying on his depth. Summer arrivals and rotation players including Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Mikel Merino, and Martin Zubimendi could enter the starting lineup.

A win in Suffolk would give Arsenal seven consecutive victories to open a campaign in all competitions. The North London club has not made such a start since the 2004/05 season under Arsene Wenger, when the run began with a 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the FA Community Shield.

The League Cup remains an elusive trophy for the Gunners despite their sustained success in other domestic competitions. Arsenal last won the tournament in 1993, when Paul Merson and Steve Morrow scored in a 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday. The final was remembered not only for the trophy but also for Morrow breaking his arm after being dropped by captain Tony Adams during the post-match celebrations.

Arsenal has since reached and lost four further finals, including last season’s defeat to Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.

Ipswich will look to exploit Arsenal’s reshuffled backline in front of a home crowd, although the Tractor Boys have struggled defensively. They have yet to keep a clean sheet this season and have conceded nine goals across their last three matches.

The hosts will also be without key personnel. Forward Emersonn is expected to be rested because of quad tightness felt during the Crystal Palace match, while midfielder Jack Taylor is ruled out with a knee injury. Midfielder Azor Matusiwa could return to the squad after a thigh injury.

Photo IMAGO

Ipswich Town Predicted XI: Walton; O’Shea, Diop, Greaves, Davis; Palacios, Nunez; Philogene, Enciso, Maeda; Flemming.

Arsenal Predicted XI: Kepa; Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Guimaraes; Madueke, Merino, Eze; Gyokeres.

Score Prediction: Ipswich Town 0-3 Arsenal