Game Week 33 Predictions: Arsenal to beat Ipswich

Ipswich face Arsenal in a must-win clash to avoid relegation; Arsenal may rotate with eyes on UCL. Verdict: Arsenal to win.

Ipswich's relegation could be confirmed in this fixture, can they stop the Gunners from condemning them to the Championship? (Photo credit: BBC)

 Ipswich Town vs Arsenal

Portman Road

2:00pm

Ipswich Town’s relegation could be confirmed in this fixture; if they lose to the Gunners and Wolves pick a point against Manchester United, the Tractor Boys would be relegated.

Ipswich Town could have beaten Chelsea last weekend; they were on the brink of doing a double against the Blues but conceded a wonder goal by Jadon Sancho, meaning it’s win or burst in this fixture – they cannot afford to lose.

For Arsenal, the celebration continues as they did an unprecedented double over Real Madrid in the Champions League, leading them to their third semifinal in the competition; now they’re dreaming, and who can blame them?

They were huge favourites for the Premier League title, which has fallen from their hands, and now they must focus on the Champions League, where they’re just two steps away from glory: beat PSG and whoever makes the final between Inter Milan and Barcelona, and the trophy is theirs.

Ipswich Town will join Leicester City and Southampton in the Championship next season. It is still mathematically possible for the former two to survive, but it is unrealistic that they would, as Wolves only need a point, which they can get at Old Trafford to complete their survival story.

Arsenal isn’t exactly interested in the game at Portman Road, which gives the Tractor Boys some hope, but how long can they hang on before they fall off? Even if Wolves don’t get anything at Old Trafford, they would still get something from other games, and that spells doom for Ipswich.

Ipswich will go all out for this one; they have no choice but to go for it, as they need points to boost their faint hopes. Mikel Arteta could rest some regulars, considering they have another fixture in midweek against Crystal Palace; this again should be of help to Ipswich.

The Tractor Boys weren’t blown away in the first leg; they narrowly lost by an own goal to the Gunners, and with their performance last weekend against Chelsea, where they raced to a two-goal lead, they could do it again against another big side.

Arsenal could line up with the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling up front. Jorginho is out, so Alex Zinchenko could come into midfield, while a fit again Ben White could relieve Jurien Timber at right back and Kieran Tierney at left back for Myles Lewis Skelly. Whatever happens, Ipswich must go for it.

Verdict: Arsenal to win.