Forget Havertz – another Arsenal player was overlooked for Man of the Match vs Ipswich

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Arsenal overcame Ipswich Town to move up to second in the Premier League table on match day 18.

The Gunners moved ahead of Chelsea to apply pressure to Liverpool in the race for the Premier League title.

As seen in Arsenal’s win over Ipswich, there’s a lot of work for Mikel Arteta’s side to do, in what was a rather uneventful contest.

Still, three points were earned from the must-win game, seeing the North Londoners end 2024 on a positive note ahead of their New Year’s Day clash.

• READ MORE: Myles Lewis-Skelly impresses again as Brazilian misses sitter – Arsenal player ratings vs Ipswich

Jurrien Timber was overlooked as Arsenal Man of the Match vs Ipswich

Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the contest, converting Leandro Trossard’s cross in the first half to earn all three points. 

While the German was named Man of the Match for his contribution, there is debate whether the forward deserved to take home the award.

That is because Jurrien Timber was in exemplary form against Ipswich, in a near-perfect performance that was reinforced by his numbers.

Winning all but two of his 11 duels and playing a key part in the action, recording 98 touches on the ball, Timber was at his very best at the Emirates.

The defender will feel unfortunate not to have scored in the first half, as he bolted through the midfield and fired a venomous shot in Arijanet Muric’s direction.

Having missed the entirety of the 2023/24 campaign recovering from an ACL injury, Timber has acted like a new signing for Arteta, adding a whole new dimension to Arsenal’s approach.

Mikel Arteta has found his full-back balance 

In a season that has been tainted by injury, Arteta can look at his options at the back and be rather satisfied, particularly at full-back.

Timber was one of the best against Ipswich and to the manager’s delight, he wasn’t the only full-back who starred against The Tractor Boys over 90 minutes. 

Myles Lewis-Skelly blew Arsenal fans away with his performance, as the teenager reminded Arteta that his place in the starting XI is currently non-negotiable.

From Timber, to Lewis-Skelly, to Riccardo Calafiori and the newly-returning Keiran Tierney, the Gunners have a list of options to play in the position, with the two starters against Ipswich proving that right now, they’re a class above the rest.