Arsenalvs.Ipswich

Mikel Arteta's men celebrated the festivities in third place in the top-flight standings, having reignited their title pursuit by demolishing Crystal Palace 5-1 at Selhurst Park on December 21.

However, the Tractor Boys found themselves on the wrong end of a four-goal margin, going down 4-0 at home to a rampant Newcastle United to remain in deep trouble in the relegation zone.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between the two sides.

Head-to-head record

Previous meetings: 59

Arsenal wins: 30

Draws: 11

Ipswich wins: 18

When Arsenal and Ipswich Town renew hostilities on December 27, it will mark the 60th competitive meeting between the two clubs in all competitions, and the Gunners boast close to a 50% win rate from all of their previous head-to-heads.

Indeed, the Gunners have triumphed on 30 occasions in this contest, while the Tractor Boys have gleaned a respectable 18 wins of their own, and the other 11 matches have seen both teams shake hands on a slice of the points.

Arsenal and Ipswich were not total strangers to one another during the latter's time in the lower leagues, as Arsene Wenger's side were only 90 minutes away from suffering a shock League Cup semi-final exit to the Tractor Boys in the 2010-11 season.

However, two weeks on from that surprise 1-0 loss in the first leg away from home, the Gunners extinguished Ipswich's Wembley hopes in a 3-0 second-leg triumph, only to fall short in the showpiece match as Birmingham City pulled off a huge upset.

Arsenal are yet to lose a Premier League game to their East Anglian counterparts, though, going unbeaten in all 10 of their previous matches in the competition with eight wins and two draws, including four victories in a row before Ipswich's 2002 relegation.

The only times Arsenal have failed to conquer Ipswich in the Premier League were on Boxing Day 1992 - a goalless draw at Highbury in their inaugural competition meeting - and a 1-1 stalemate at Portman Road in 2000, where Dennis Bergkamp struck late to save Arsenal's bacon.

Ipswich were Arsenal's chief nemesis during the 1970s, however, as the Tractor Boys incredibly beat the North London giants in seven consecutive First Division matches from 1974 to 1977, in addition to a 1-0 win over the Gunners in the 1978 FA Cup final.

Arsenal icon Ian Wright comfortably tops the all-time individual scoring charts in this fixture, netting nine goals against Ipswich during his Gunners career, while the late Kevin Campbell managed five efforts versus the Tractor Boys for the capital club.

Last 20 meetings

Jan 25, 2011: Arsenal 3-0 Ipswich (League Cup Semi-Finals)

Jan 12, 2011: Ipswich 1-0 Arsenal (League Cup Semi-Finals)

Apr 21, 2002: Arsenal 2-0 Ipswich (Premier League)

Dec 01, 2001: Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal (Premier League)

Feb 10, 2001: Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich (Premier League)

Nov 01, 2000: Arsenal 1-2 Ipswich (League Cup Third Round)

Sep 23, 2000: Ipswich 1-1 Arsenal (Premier League)

Apr 15, 1995: Arsenal 4-1 Ipswich (Premier League)

Dec 28, 1994: Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal (Premier League)

Mar 05, 1994: Ipswich 1-5 Arsenal (Premier League)

Sep 11, 1993: Arsenal 4-0 Ipswich (Premier League)

Apr 10, 1993: Ipswich 1-2 Arsenal (Premier League)

Mar 06, 1993: Ipswich 2-4 Arsenal (FA Cup Quarter-Finals)

Dec 26, 1992: Arsenal 0-0 Ipswich (Premier League)

Mar 11, 1986: Ipswich 1-2 Arsenal (First Division)

Oct 19, 1985: Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich (First Division)

Mar 19, 1985: Arsenal 1-1 Ipswich (First Division)

Sep 15, 1984: Ipswich 2-1 Arsenal (First Division)

Mar 10, 1984: Arsenal 4-1 Ipswich (First Division)

Nov 12, 1983: Ipswich 1-0 Arsenal (First Division)

Last 10 Premier League meetings

Apr 21, 2002: Arsenal 2-0 Ipswich (Premier League)

Dec 01, 2001: Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal (Premier League)

Feb 10, 2001: Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich (Premier League)

Sep 23, 2000: Ipswich 1-1 Arsenal (Premier League)

Apr 15, 1995: Arsenal 4-1 Ipswich (Premier League)

Dec 28, 1994: Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal (Premier League)

Mar 05, 1994: Ipswich 1-5 Arsenal (Premier League)

Sep 11, 1993: Arsenal 4-0 Ipswich (Premier League)

Apr 10, 1993: Ipswich 1-2 Arsenal (Premier League)

Dec 26, 1992: Arsenal 0-0 Ipswich (Premier League)

Written by

Ben Knapton