Arsenal’s right didn’t look right without the talismanic Bukayo Saka.
Gabriel Martinelli switched flanks but never convinced as Saka’s understudy in this 1-0 success over Ipswich Town at the Emirates.
Martin Odegaard was less influential without Saka’s clever movement and immense work ethic outside him. Arsenal’s attacking right-back, Jurrien Timber, played well but there was none of that instinctive understanding with Saka, none of those quick wall passes with Mr Right Side.
The expected victory was delivered but not in any resounding fashion that will alarm the Premier League leaders, Liverpool, who are six points clear with a game in hand.
Without Saka, Arsenal are less potent at set-pieces as well as in transition.
His 52 goals and 45 assists in 186 Premier League appearances highlight his contribution. Arsenal fans will also attest to his work ethic and selflessness.
This could be a domestic season shaped by Rodri’s ACL and Saka’s hamstring as well as Arne Slot’s decisive sharpening of Liverpool.
Saka is expected to be out for two months. Contrary to many thoughts he has been rested and rotated more often by Mikel Arteta this season but Arsenal’s heavy reliance on him means a heavy workload during games, inevitably putting his sinews at risk.
If Arsenal made heavy weather of dispatching promoted Ipswich without him, they face far greater challenges in forthcoming weeks, including Newcastle United, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.
Blessed with a far stronger bench, Liverpool can cope with absentees, even Mohamed Salah.
If Slot was deprived the elite services of his celebrated right winger, he has options in the form of Harvey Elliott or Federico Chiesa able to step up from the bench. Neither is close to Salah’s level but at least Slot doesn’t have to alter other parts of his attack.
Arteta moved Martinelli from left to right, and the Brazilian was soon running at Leif Davis. Indeed, from the kick-off, Martinelli grappled with Davis as they ran down the wing. Davis, socks rolled down, accepted the challenge and did well against Martinelli.
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Saka is such a persistent threat, able to go right and left, willing to take the knocks, and would have troubled Davis more.
Martinelli tried to replicate Saka’s movement, drifting inside and indicating Timber to stay right briefly.
Then Gabriel Jesus briefly went right, and Martinelli inside. But it all lacked the kaleidoscopic movement of the triangle involving Saka, Odegaard and Timber (or Ben White).
Another weapon missing in Arsenal’s armoury was Saka’s strength in the air. He has a good spring, and a determination to fight for crosses not always properly appreciated.
Martinelli failed to impose himself aerially on Davis, who climbed above Arsenal’s No.11 to clear a Leandro Trossard cross after 20 minutes.
Arsenal did break through the massed ranks of Ipswich’s defence three minutes later, and Martinelli did play an early role in the move.
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His cross was headed out by Luke Woolfenden but only to Trossard on the left. Ipswich’s defenders were fractionally too slow in their reactions, and a fraction is all it takes to be punished at Premier League.
As Trossard collected the ball, Ben Johnson should have guarded more against the run to the dead-ball line, knowing that Dara O’Shea was tucked inside, covering the cutback. Johnson was caught out as Trossard accelerated and drove towards the line. Now it was Jacob Greaves getting caught out.
The left sided of Kieran McKenna’s three centre-backs was marking space, not checking on Kai Havertz’s arrival. Davis also failed to push inside. Havertz darted in ahead of the pair to score from close range.
Havertz’s 12th goal of the season drew a roar of joy, and plenty of singing from Arsenal fans.
But it continued a theme of Havertz scoring against the less taxing opponents, also including Crystal Palace, West Ham, Southampton, Leicester, and Wolves, as well as Bolton and Preston in the Carabao Cup.
Arsenal need Havertz to score more consistently against the bigger sides.
The lead secured, Arsenal should have kicked on again. Saka would have led the hunt for a second but he was beginning his rehab. His understudy, Martinelli, kept looking for the ball but didn’t receive the ball enough.
He would wait until Declan Rice received possession and then move, targeting space between Davis and Greaves and also between Greaves and Woolfenden. He threw up his hands in half-frustration when Rice delayed his delivery at one point.
Arsenal’s attack was even less threatening after the break.
Odegaard’s free-kick failed to clear the wall. But the Norwegian’s ability to manipulate a dead-ball did almost bring reward. Saka curls in a beautiful corner from the right.
Here, taking corner duties for that side, Odegaard did deliver a gem towards the edge of the area. Gabriel was again engaged in a rugged rumba with Liam Delap but this was a ploy by Arsenal, another from Nicolas Jover’s box of tricks.
As Arsenal’s set-piece guru watched on, Gabriel manoeuvred Delap out of the way, Rice caught Odegaard’s ball on the volley and only O’Shea’s block saved Ipswich conceding a second.
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But Arsenal ran out of ideas and energy, inviting Ipswich to believe they could equalise.
Odegaard even stooped to some time-wasting, going down holding his face after taking a tap on the chest from Jack Clarke. Ipswich were breaking upfield, and Darren England, mindful of head injuries, stopped the attack, much to the visitors’ frustration.
Odegaard did eat up some time as Arsenal held out. If there was any celebration afterwards, it would have been a toast to Havertz’s goal – and to an absent friend.