Ipswich: Baker, Stockwell, Yallop, Linighan, Palmer, Williams, Thomsen, Marshall, Mathie , Slater, Ellis Subs: Chapman (Mathie 59), Milton (Ellis 80), Morgan
Result : Arsenal (1) 4 Ipswich (0) 1 Scorers: Merson 33, Wright 47,50,56 Marshall 71
Bookings: Keown, Hartson
Att : 36818 Referee : T Holbrook (Walsall)
It was a game Arsenal really had to win, and though in the end they did so comfortably, there was a period in the 1st half when it looked as though it might be one of those days. Near monopolisation of possession and numerous corners had produced several close shaves but no goal. Hartson missed the best chance, putting a free header from Helder corner a couple of yards wide from about 12 yards out. Schwarz blasted a chance from the edge of the area high over the bar following another corner.
Eventually though, Highbury's nerves were settled by a lovely goal just after the half hour. Merson broke from midfield and passed towards Wright on the edge of the area. An Ipswich defender got a foot in first however, but Wrighty collected the loose ball and then deftly backheeled it into Merson's path as he continued his run into the area. Unmarked he was free to crack a shot past the keeper and just inside the far post from about 15 yards.
Barely 10 minutes into the 2nd half the game was virtually over as a contest as Wright completed another hattrick. His first came after a cross from Helder on the left was headed out to him by Yallop under pressure from Hartson. He whacked a shot from about 12 yards through a forest of bodies into the roof of the net. Three minutes later one of Arsenal's corners finally paid off. Merson's inswinger from the left was flicked on at the near post and Wrighty threw himself at the ball to bundle it into goal past about 3 defenders on the line.
His third was a gift as Mathie played an awful backpass straight to his feet. Taking it on into the area he tried to scoop the ball up and over Baker who just managed to get fingertips to it. However Wrighty followed up well to collect and then turn past the keeper to give himself a simple tap in.
After that the main entertainment came from the good-natured Ipswich fans who cheered deliriously when they won their first corner a few minutes later and provoked some comradely chanting from the Gooners in the Clock End. They were even more delirious not long afterwards when Ipswich scored their first goal in 8 matches in fairly comical fashion.
Winterburn had just gone off injured and strangely Schwarz rather than Keown replaced him at left back. The Swede chased a ball into midfield and a misunderstanding with Bould I think allowed Marshall to intercept and then set off on a stumbling run which took him from his own half into the Arsenal area, past Adams and Bould. Seaman came out to meet him, the pair collided with Bould in the tangle as well, the ball popped out and Marshall was the first to recover and shot into the net through Adams' legs from about 5 yards.
Arsenal had chances to increase their lead, most notably when Hartson put a shot just wide of the near post after being clean through. He also had a similar chance which was just deflected for a corner, and was booked following a bad foul on Linighan and an ensuing scuffle. He had just been fouled in the area with no reward, mind you. Kiwomya also missed a reasonable half-chance after coming on for Wright 10 minutes from time.
Report by Derek Brownjohn