Arsenal climbed to second place in the Premier League table following their 1-0 victory over Ipswich at the Emirates, capitalizing on Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Fulham on Boxing Day.
Kai Havertz scored the decisive goal in the first half, finishing a low cross from Leandro Trossard. This marked Havertz’s second goal in as many games, following his contribution in the 5-1 triumph over Crystal Palace before Christmas.
Mikel Arteta’s side appears to be hitting form at a crucial time as they aim to challenge league leaders Liverpool, who remain six points ahead with a game in hand. Arsenal’s injury concerns are also easing, with Gabriel Magalhães and Jurrien Timber returning to action and Oleksandr Zinchenko resuming training.
One standout performer amid the injury crisis has been 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly. A central midfielder by trade, Lewis-Skelly has stepped into the left-back role, delivering a string of impressive performances in four of Arsenal’s last five matches. Against Ipswich, he capped off his display by winning a crucial free kick in the dying moments to thwart Ipswich’s hopes of an equalizer.
His performances have been so impactful that fans believe Riccardo Calafiori, currently recovering from injury, shouldn’t automatically regain his spot in the starting XI.
One fan wrote: “MLS is a phenom. Calafiori doesn’t get back into the team.” Another added: “Signed Calafiori just to unearth a gem in Lewis-Skelly.”
Others echoed similar sentiments, with one commenting: “I’ll pick Lewis-Skelly over Calafiori,” and another stating: “Lewis-Skelly is ready to play regularly. He’s good enough even with the big players back.”
Arsenal’s promising young talent continues to shine as the team pushes to maintain momentum in their title chase.