Ahead of Ipswich Town’s Carabao Cup third-round meeting with Arsenal at Portman Road, manager Gary O’Neil has acknowledged the difficulty of trying to contain Mikel Arteta’s side.
O’Neil said Arsenal are relatively easy to prepare for from a tactical perspective because of their consistency and clearly defined playing structure. However, he noted that executing a plan capable of stopping them during a match is much more challenging.
Despite the significant difference between the two clubs, Ipswich head into the encounter with confidence after securing a dramatic late victory over Crystal Palace.
Speaking to the club’s website, O’Neil said Ipswich would not approach the match with a purely defensive mindset, insisting that his side would field a strong team and aim to compete for victory at home.
“Arsenal are tough to beat, even if you do everything right. I will make some changes to my team. I’m sure Mikel Arteta will make changes to his team, but it is a game we want to win.
“I want us to get as far in the cups as we possibly can, so we are going to give it our best go at home under the lights.
“We missed an opportunity against Liverpool (at the start of September). We played well, but it was already 2-0 in the ninth minute.
“We missed an opportunity to use the energy of Portman Road under the lights against a big side, but we can correct that on Tuesday.
“We can start the game well. We can take the fans with us. We can attempt to beat one of the best sides around.”