Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal opened their new Carabao Cup campaign with an emphatic victory, beating Ipswich 4-2. Last season’s attempt at this competition ended in heartbreaking fashion for the Gunners as they rolled over in the final, suffering a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City. They have finished as runners-up in this competition four times in the past 20 years, but will hope to break their duck and finally get over the line this season.
Arsenal head north-east to Ipswich having made an unbeaten start to the new season, and two goals from Max Dowman amid further strikes from Mikel Merino and Noni Madueke ensured their progression here, in spite of the consolations scored by Anis Mehmeti and Chuba Akpom.
Gary O’Neil’s side is now winless in three meetings with big six sides this season, though to score two goals is a notable improvement on earlier defeats by Manchester United and Liverpool. Catch up with the action as it happened below with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog, complete with expert insight and analysis from Matt Verri.
Ipswich vs Arsenal latest news
- GOAL! Akpom scores a consolation
- GOAL! Mehmeti pulls one back
- GOAL! Merino makes it four
- GOAL! Dowman bags a brace
- GOAL! Madueke doubles advantage
- GOAL! Dowman buries superb solo opener
- How to watch: Sky Sports+
Arsenal player ratings
22:07 , Arthur Ferridge
Max Dowman 9
Special performance from a special talent. Ridiculous composure for both of his finishes, particularly the first when sitting down Kipre. Utterly fearless and Ipswich could not live with him.
Eberechi Eze 5
Wasted his opportunity to impress. Did not offer the same intensity as those around him and felt like he was lacking half a yard of sharpness. Isolated on that wing with Lewis-Skelly largely playing centrally.
Viktor Gyokeres 2
A spectator. One tame shot was all he managed and it can’t keep being put down to a lack of service. Not enough willingness to make the runs and force his way into space in the box. Touch was terrible when he did get the ball.
Click here to see our ratings in full!
FULL-TIME! Ipswich 2-4 Arsenal
21:51 , Arthur Ferridge
That does it! Arsenal progress.
GOAL! Ipswich 2-4 Arsenal | Akpom '90+1
21:50 , Arthur Ferridge
Akpom pulls another goal back for the Tractor Boys. Just a consolation at this point, surely.
Ipswich 1-4 Arsenal
21:49 , Arthur Ferridge
The fourth official announces two minutes of added time.
Ipswich 1-4 Arsenal
21:46 , Arthur Ferridge
87mins: Arsenal are pushing hard for a fifth in the late stages here.
Ipswich 1-4 Arsenal
21:44 , Arthur Ferridge
85mins: Ibrahim comes on for Zubimendi.
Ipswich 1-4 Arsenal
21:44 , Arthur Ferridge
84mins: Gyokeres goes down in the box and wants a penalty, but does not get one.
Ipswich 1-4 Arsenal
21:40 , Arthur Ferridge
81mins: Another Ipswich change, with Lukic replacing Luis.
Ipswich 1-4 Arsenal
21:38 , Arthur Ferridge
79mins: Konsa is caught in possession, but Ipswich cannot capitalise on what is a brilliant position.
Ipswich 1-4 Arsenal
21:35 , Arthur Ferridge
76mins: Two more Arsenal changes. Odegaard and Tzolis replace Eze and Madueke.
Strong performances from both this evening.
Ipswich 1-4 Arsenal
21:33 , Arthur Ferridge
74mins: An Arsenal attack breaks down as Gyokeres horribly miscontrols a pass from Madueke. The latter looks exasperated as Ipswich play out.
Ipswich 1-4 Arsenal
21:32 , Arthur Ferridge
73mins: Davis gets a cross off this time, from the opposite side though. Kepa catches it. Routine stuff for Arsenal, who are in second gear and processing.
Ipswich 1-4 Arsenal
21:30 , Arthur Ferridge
71mins: Akpom plays a nice cross into the Arsenal box, but there are no blue shirts to get a shot off.
Ipswich 1-4 Arsenal
21:28 , Arthur Ferridge
68mins: Another two changes for Ipswich, with Ouattara coming off for Egeli and McAteer for Davis.
Ipswich 1-4 Arsenal
21:26 , Arthur Ferridge
67mins: Also worth mentioning that Mehmeti’s goal just now was Ipswich’s first shot on target.
Ipswich 1-4 Arsenal
21:25 , Arthur Ferridge
66mins: Still just nine touches for Gyokeres, by the way.
Ipswich 1-4 Arsenal
21:23 , Arthur Ferridge
64mins: A first change for Arteta as Julienne replaces Guimaraes.
GOAL! Ipswich 1-4 Arsenal | Mehmeti '62
21:21 , Arthur Ferridge
Clarke has an immediate impact! He drives at goal and squares for Mehmeti to bury first time.
One back for the Tractor Boys. Time for the comeback?
Ipswich 0-4 Arsenal
21:20 , Arthur Ferridge
A pair of changes for Ipswich. Philogene and Flemming off. Clarke and Akpom on.
GOAL! Ipswich 0-4 Arsenal | Merino '58
21:17 , Arthur Ferridge
Merino gets in on the act and it's four! He collects the ball on the edge of the area and gets it out of his feet so quickly. Lovely finish, in off the post. Keeper, helpless.
Ipswich 0-3 Arsenal
21:14 , Arthur Ferridge
54mins: A superb cross from Madueke somehow flashes across the face of goal without being turned in. Eze and Gyokeres watch it go.
Ipswich 0-3 Arsenal
21:12 , Arthur Ferridge
53mins: Who is the youngest man to score a hat-trick in the Carabao Cup, I wonder?
Matt Verri reports
21:10 , Arthur Ferridge
Everything Dowman does, particularly in the final third, just looks so easy. This is a serious statement being made from the 16-year-old as he looks to force his way into getting more minutes this season.
GOAL! Ipswich 0-3 Arsenal | Dowman '47
21:07 , Arthur Ferridge
What a start to the half for Arsenal - Dowman has a brace! They have been knocking the ball around with such intent and Zubimendi does well to find the youngster in the box. He finishes well from a tight angle.
2ND HALF: Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
21:04 , Arthur Ferridge
We are back underway!
Ezri Konsa has replaced Gabriel for Arsenal.
HALF-TIME: Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
20:47 , Arthur Ferridge
A comfortable lead for Arsenal at the break. Ipswich have threatened at times, but never gone terribly close to goal. A routine outing for Mikel Arteta’s rotated Gunners so far.
Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
20:46 , Arthur Ferridge
One minute of added time. Time to go get in line for the bar, I reckon.
Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
20:46 , Arthur Ferridge
45mins: Gyokeres picks up a loose ball in the box and is overeager to shoot. He turns and lets fly where there is not space to do so, and it is an easy pickup for Walton.
Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
20:44 , Arthur Ferridge
43mins: Walton’s long ball up to Flemming stands to put Arsenal in a spot of bother, but Gabriel deals with it with plenty of composure.
Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
20:40 , Arthur Ferridge
39mins: Madueke loses his footing in the box but doesn’t bother appealing for a penalty. Arsenal pushing hard for a third before half-time.
Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
20:39 , Arthur Ferridge
37mins: Philogene does well to sit down Salmon, but Kepa does well to get down and claim his cross.
Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
20:37 , Arthur Ferridge
36mins: If this was supposed to be an opportunity for Gyokeres to find form, he is currently failing. Just three touches for the Swede thus far, the least of anyone on the pitch by quite a distance.
Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
20:36 , Arthur Ferridge
35mins: Arsenal break forward for the first time in a little while, and do so with some intent. Eze cuts in off the left and sees his effort blocked. The Gunners regain possession, though, and will come again.
Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
20:35 , Arthur Ferridge
34mins: McAteer goes into the book for denying Dowman the chance to counter.
Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
20:34 , Arthur Ferridge
33mins: Answer to the previous question is ‘no’. Kepa clears the danger with a firm punch. Ipswich are finding themselves in some good positions. They must start taking advantage.
Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
20:33 , Arthur Ferridge
32mins: Gabriel does well to track across and beat Philogene to a loose ball in the box. He does concede a corner, though. Can Ipswich capitalise?
Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
20:31 , Arthur Ferridge
30mins: Salmon cuts out Nunez’s through-ball to Mehmeti.
Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
20:28 , Arthur Ferridge
27mins: CLOSE! A great chance for Ipswich. Mehmeti powers forward and feeds Ouattara. He switches to Flemming, who sets Mehmeti up to shoot. The Albanian’s effort flashes just over the crossbar.
Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
20:24 , Arthur Ferridge
23mins: Dowman finds Madueke in the box, but his low cross is cut out before it reaches Gyokeres. Dowman, under not inconsiderable pressure, dribbles out of play from the resultant throw-in.
Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
20:22 , Arthur Ferridge
20mins: Philogene’s turn to try and find a way into the Arsenal box, but this time Zubimendi foils him. Composed defending from the Spanish midfielder-come-right-back.
Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal
20:20 , Arthur Ferridge
19mins: Flemming has a shooting chance, but Salmon controls his effort well. The rebound falls to Ouattara, who puts it over the bar.
Matt Verri reports
20:19 , Arthur Ferridge
Ipswich might want to give up playing out from the back. Arsenal's pressing is too much for them and it leads to the second goal. The visitors have been right at it from the start and this match already feels close to done.
GOAL! Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal | Madueke '16
20:17 , Arthur Ferridge
It’s two! Ipswich attempt to play out from the back but get caught in the press. Merino plays a ball over the top to an unmarked Madueke, who makes no mistake. This has the makings of a long night for the hosts.
Ipswich 0-1 Arsenal
20:16 , Arthur Ferridge
15mins: Guimaraes attempts to thread a through ball to Dowman, but it is cut out.
Ipswich 0-1 Arsenal
20:12 , Arthur Ferridge
11mins: A half-hearted penalty shout for Arsenal as Chuba Akpom appears to handle the ball in the box, but the referee is not interested.
Ipswich 0-1 Arsenal
20:10 , Arthur Ferridge
9mins: An Ipswich free-kick is whipped into the box from high on the left flank. It is sent towards the front post but Gyokeres gets his head to it first. Danger neutralised.
Matt Verri reports
20:09 , Arthur Ferridge
First minutes of the season, first goal. Some finish from Dowman, so composed and he has the footwork to match it. Perfect start for Arsenal.
GOAL! Ipswich 0-1 Arsenal | Dowman '7
20:08 , Arthur Ferridge
The wonderkid does it again! Dowman dances through the middle of the park and before you know it he’s one-on-one. The finish is well placed into the bottom-left corner. Superb stuff from the 16-year-old.
Ipswich 0-0 Arsenal
20:07 , Arthur Ferridge
6mins: “Champions of England, we know what we are,” sing the travelling Arsenal fans.
Ipswich 0-0 Arsenal
20:06 , Arthur Ferridge
5mins: Arsenal pry Ipswich open with absolute ease. Lewis-Skelly cruises down the left flank and finds Dowman in the middle. He tees up Guimaraes, who is denied a shooting chance by a last-ditch tackle from a backtracking defender. Positive signs for the Gunners.
Ipswich 0-0 Arsenal
20:04 , Arthur Ferridge
3mins: The first shot of the day falls for Guimaraes, but his effort from the edge of the box is well blocked. Was an awful lot of traffic in that 18-yard box.
Ipswich 0-0 Arsenal
20:03 , Arthur Ferridge
2mins: Goals are flying in around the grounds. Callum Wilson has Brentford 1-0 up at Reading, while it is all square at 1-1 between West Ham and Fulham.
Ipswich 0-0 Arsenal
20:02 , Arthur Ferridge
1min: It is indeed Zubimendi at right-back, Salmon and Gabriel as centre-backs, and Lewis-Skelly at left-back. A 4-2-3-1, then.
KICK-OFF! Ipswich 0-0 Arsenal
20:01 , Arthur Ferridge
We are UNDERWAY!
Here we go...
19:56 , Arthur Ferridge
The players are out at Portman Road! Kick-off up next...
Team news reminder
19:50 , Arthur Ferridge
Ten minutes to kick-off. Here’s a reminder of tonight’s starting lineups.
Ipswich XI: Walton, Furlong, Kipre, Greaves, Ouattara, Florentino, Nunez, McAteer, Mehmeti, Philogene, Flemming
Arsenal XI: Arrizabalaga; Salmon, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Guimaraes, Merino, Dowman, Madueke, Eze, Gyokeres
Gary O'Neil previews the tie
19:45 , Arthur Ferridge
“Arsenal are tough to beat, even if you do everything right.
“I want to get as far in the cups as we can. We’re going to give it our best go at home under the lights. I think we missed the opportunity against Liverpool. We played well, but it was already 2-0.
“So we can correct that. We can start the game well. We can take the fans with us on an attempt to beat one of the best sides around.”
Ipswich vs Arsenal match facts
19:36 , Arthur Ferridge
- Arsenal have progressed from two of their three previous EFL Cup ties against Ipswich, the 1970-71 second round and 2010-11 semi-final, losing the other 2-1 in the 2000-01 third round.
- Ipswich Town have progressed from seven of their last nine third round ties in the EFL Cup, most recently against Wolves in 2023-24 (3-2 win).
- Ipswich manager Gary O’Neil has lost all four of his managerial meetings with Arsenal in all competitions (one with Bournemouth, three with Wolves). Only against Manchester United and West Ham has he managed more games without ever avoiding defeat (both 5).
Via BOYLE Sports.
Arteta delivers Arsenal injury update
19:34 , Arthur Ferridge
On Hincapie: “With some players, they were carrying some fatigue, some real issues we have to look after. Other players are available, fresh and in better condition to play.”
On Timber: “No (he has not suffered a setback), everything is fine. He has played much more than we wanted. The other day he had 53 minutes after five months out. We need to look after him.” (Via Sky Sports)
Elsewhere tonight...
19:27 , Arthur Ferridge
There is an all Big Six clash at Anfield as Tottenham visit Liverpool...
Click here to follow live coverage!
Arteta breaks down Arsenal selection
19:27 , Arthur Ferridge
Fascinating insight as ever from Mikel Arteta, who tells Sky Sports:“Obviously, we had a very intense week with games against Chelsea, Napoli and Sunderland. We want to attack this competition from the beginning, and we picked a team with the right freshness and connections.”
Arsenal youngsters on the bench
19:18 , Arthur Ferridge
Ife Ibrahim and Theo Julienne are the two Arsenal academy graduates on the bench tonight.
The 2008-born midfielder Ibrahim made his first-team debut in the Champions League defeat of Kairat last season.
Julienne, meanwhile, is a versatile goalscoring full-back who has impressed in the club’s youth ranks but is yet to make his bow.
Ipswich team news
19:06 , Arthur Ferridge
Looking at that Arsenal back four, Gary O’Neil might regret rotating so much. He has left both Julio Enciso and Daizen Maeda on the bench, as well as Chuba Akpom.
Arsenal team news
18:57 , Arthur Ferridge
Well, what to make of that Arsenal team?
Let’s start with the obvious. Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Piero Hincapie and Cristhina Mosquera are all left out.
Kepa replaces David Raya in goal, behind what appears to be a back four of Marli Salmon, Gabriel, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Martin Zubimendi.
Viktor Gyokeres needs a confidence boost and starts up top, with Max Dowman - a surprise starter - Noni Madueke and Ebere Eze in behind him.
That leaves Bruno Guimaraes and Mikel Merino to comprise the base of midfield.
Interesting stuff. Let’s see how they shape up.
IPSWICH CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
18:48 , Arthur Ferridge
Ipswich XI: Walton, Furlong, Kipre, Greaves, Ouattara, Florentino, Nunez, McAteer, Mehmeti, Philogene, Flemming
Subs: Palmer, O’Shea, Davis, Lukic, Egeli, Clarke, Maeda, Enciso, Akpom
ARSENAL CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
18:46 , Arthur Ferridge
Arsenal XI: Arrizabalaga; Salmon, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Guimaraes, Merino, Dowman, Madueke, Eze, Gyokeres
Subs: Meslier, Saka, Odegaard, Konsa, Tzolis, Havertz, Calafiori, Ibrahim, Julienne
Predicted XIs
18:40 , Arthur Ferridge
Predicted Arsenal XI: Kepa; Timber, Konsa, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Guimaraes; Madueke, Merino, Eze; Gyokeres
Predicted Ipswich XI: Walton; O'Shea, Greaves, Diop, Davis; Palacios, Nunez; Philogene, Maeda, Enciso; Flemming
Ipswich vs Arsenal head to head
18:35 , Arthur Ferridge
Ipswich have only beat Arsenal once in their last seven meetings, a run which dates back to 2001.
The Gunners have taken the spoils in each of their past three comings together by an aggregate score of eight goals to nil.
Ipswich wins: 18
Arsenal wins: 32
Draws: 11
Ipswich vs Arsenal latest odds
18:29 , Arthur Ferridge
Ipswich to win: 19/2
Draw (in 90 mins): 9/2
Arsenal to win: 2/9
Odds via Betfair (subject to change)
Inside the away dressing room
18:21 , Arthur Ferridge
Cramped conditions in the Arsenal changing room tonight...
Why isn't Dowman expected to start tonight?
18:13 , Arthur Ferridge
Speaking ahead of this fixture, Mikel Arteta sent a clear message to the young Max Dowman.
He warned the Arsenal wonderkid he must earn his first-team minutes, just like any other member of the squad.
The 16-year-old has been an unused substitute four times already this season, and was sent away to play against Chelsea for the academy at the Weekend.
Arteta said: "Well, I wish we could have him [at Sunderland], but we have a limitation with the numbers we have.
"Max will have his chance. He will have his minutes and he will have to earn them like anybody else.
"You know the talent that we have, the players that we have there, we need to help him and find a way to make sure he continues to develop."
Standard Sport prediction
18:05 , Arthur Ferridge
Ipswich have made a plucky start to the campaign, getting the better of Sunderland and Crystal Palace in the league, but defeats by Liverpool and Man United are telling of their place in the food chain.
Arsenal have also started brightly, picking up exactly where they left off last season. Mikel Arteta is due to rotate here, but even his second-string should have more than enough in the locker to plough past the Tractor Boys.
We don’t expect this one to be particularly close.
Arsenal to win, 3-0.
Ipswich early team news: One out, one doubt
17:55 , Arthur Ferridge
There are two expected absentees for Ipswich tonight. Jack Taylor continues to recover from a knee injury which is expected to keep him sidelined until next season.
Azor Matusiwa, meanwhile, is a doubt as he recovers from a thigh problem. He may still make the matchday squad, though.
Arsenal early team news: Will Dowman feature?
17:45 , Arthur Ferridge
Max Dowman is expected to start on the bench for Arsenal tonight after he featured for one of the club’s academy sides at the weekend.
It is a relatively clean bill of health for Arteta, with William Saliba the only definite absentee.
It is not absolutely clear, though, whether Cristhian Mosquera or Ben White are fit to feature.
Elsewhere, reports suggest Jurrien Timber will be rested as he continues his recovery from a long-standing groin injury.
How to watch Ipswich vs Arsenal
17:36 , Arthur Ferridge
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports. Coverage starts at 7pm BST on Sky Sports+ ahead of kick-off at 8pm.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app and website.
Good evening
17:23 , Arthur Ferridge
Hello, and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Ipswich vs Arsenal in the third round of the Carabao Cup!
Shark meets minnow as the Gunners make their first foray into this season’s competition, having finished as beaten finalists last time around. Can they go one better in 2027?
If they are to do so, the journey must start with a win at Portman Road tonight. Follow along for all the latest right here, with kick-off pencilled in for 8pm BST.
Stick with us!
