Why Arsenal are not playing on Boxing Day plus talkSPORT commentary for Ipswich clash at Emirates

Arsenal will not be playing on Boxing Day this year as they welcome Ipswich to the Emirates on Friday night instead. 

The Gunners head into the clash off the back of two wins against Crystal Palace in the Premier League and Carabao Cup. 

Those victories have put Mikel Arteta’s side back on track, but they will need to keep winning to make sure they keep up in the title race. 

Liverpool are six points clear of the north London outfit heading into the festive fixtures, so they can’t afford to slip up again. 

They now face Ipswich who have only won two of their first 17 games back in the top-flight, being battered 4-0 at home to Newcastle at the weekend. 

Why are Arsenal not playing on Boxing Day?

Arsenal are taking on Ipswich on Friday, December 27 in one of only two Premier League games that aren’t being played on Boxing Day.

Originally, this match was planned for December 26, but it was rescheduled in October. 

And that happened due to the TV scheduling on Amazon Prime. 

An Arsenal statement explaining the change read: “Previously set for Boxing Day, our match at home to Ipswich Town will now kick off at 8.15pm on Friday, December 27 and will be shown live on Amazon Prime Video.” 

Amazon are broadcasting all of the games across December 26 and 27, with some being spread out to provide the best TV coverage. 

The action at the Emirates and Brighton vs Brentford have been chosen as the games to be played on the evening after Boxing Day. 

Even on Boxing Day, due to TV broadcasts, the fixtures are spread with Liverpool hosting Leicester at 8pm and Manchester City facing Everton at 12:30pm. 

• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 13 league games against Ipswich (W10 D3), since a 2-1 away loss in September 1984.
• Ipswich are winless in their last 11 away league games against Arsenal (D4 L7), losing the last four in a row. Their last such victory was in August 1979 (2-0 under Bobby Robson).
• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 41 Premier League home games against promoted sides (W36 D5), winning the last 12 in a row. Only Chelsea (43 between 2001 and 2015) have had a longer such run in the competition’s history.

Arsenal vs Ipswich: talkSPORT coverage 

This game will be broadcast exclusively live on talkSPORT.

Coverage is set to be hosted by Hugh Woozencroft while commentary comes from Sam Matterface and former West Ham manager Alan Pardew. 

talkSPORT will also have commentary from all of Boxing Day’s games the day prior. 

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. 

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

As well as this, talkSPORT.com has you covered with all the latest in our dedicated live blog. 

• Arsenal have scored 5+ goals in seven different Premier League games in 2024 – the last team to do so in more top-flight games in a single calendar year were Burnley (9 in 1960), while the last time the Gunners did so was in 1931 (8).
• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League home games (W8 D3), and are the only side without a home defeat so far this term (W5 D3). The Gunners are looking to keep four consecutive home clean sheets in the league for the first time since November/December 2021.
• Ipswich have won two of their last three Premier League away games, having been winless in 12 on the road in the top-flight before this. However, the Tractor Boys are winless in their last 17 Premier League games against sides in the top four of the table (D3 L14), since a 1-0 win against Liverpool at Anfield in January 1995.

Arsenal vs Ipswich: Team news 

Arsenal have been dealt a huge blow as Bukayo Saka is out until February.

Saka picked up a hamstring injury last time out and Arteta has admitted that it’s ‘not looking good’ for his star man heading into the new year. 

That means Gabriel Martinelli could play on the right wing unless Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus or even Kai Havertz cover there instead. 

Declan Rice only appeared as a substitute against Crystal Palace but he’s likely to return to the line-up while Raheem Sterling has been ruled out. 

Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko are likely to stay on the sidelines.

As for Ipswich, Liam Delap is set to return from suspension but captain Sam Morsy will have Christmas at home after picking up his fifth yellow at the weekend. 

Morsy’s absence means Man City loanee Kalvin Phillips or Jack Taylor will start next to Jens Cajuste in midfield. 

Ben Johnson may be preferred to Harry Clarke at right-back while Axel Tuanzebe and Chiedozie Ogbene are still out injured. 

George Hirst won’t be back until the new year, so Delap will come straight back in to lead the line with Conor Chaplin potentially moving to a deeper role. 

• Arsenal have had more different goalscorers than any other side in the Premier League this season (14), with Gabriel Jesus and Declan Rice netting their first goals of the campaign last time out against Crystal Palace.
• Only Manchester City’s Premier League games have seen more goals scored in the opening 15 minutes (13 – F6 A7) than Ipswich’s so far this season (12 – F5 A7).
• Gabriel Jesus has scored five goals in his last two games for Arsenal in all competitions, as many as he had in his previous 45. No player has scored multiple goals in three consecutive appearances for the Gunners (all comps) in the Premier League era.