Sports
League Cup Preview: In-Form Arsenal Favoured to Overcome Ipswich at Portman Road
By Hogan Short
Ipswich Town host Arsenal in the round of 32 of the 2026/27 League Cup on Tuesday, 15 September, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 GMT at Portman Road. Arsenal arrive as strong favourites after a six-match winning streak across all competitions, while Ipswich will look to use home advantage to spring an upset. Ipswich reached this stage of the competition after a 3-1 home win over Leicester in the previous round, having shown inconsistent form in the Premier League this season. Despite recent defeats to Liverpool and Manchester United, the club secured a 3-2 away win against Crystal Palace, demonstrating their ability to perform under pressure. Overall, Ipswich have won 12 of their last 21 matches across all competitions and have no major injury concerns heading into the game. Midfielder M. Nuñez, who scored twice in his only League Cup appearance this season, is expected to be a key attacking threat. Arsenal, meanwhile, continue to show strong form, winning their last six matches in all competitions, including victories over Sunderland and Napoli in which they kept clean sheets. The Gunners have won 13 of their last 21 games, drawing four and losing four, and will field a fully fit squad for the fixture. Historically, Arsenal have dominated recent meetings between the two sides, winning their last two encounters without conceding a goal and scoring five times in total during the 2024 Premier League season. Predicted lineups: Ipswich are expected to start Christian Walton in goal, with a back four of A. Ouattara, C. Kipré, D. Furlong and Cameron Humphreys. The midfield trio is likely to include J. Clarke, K. McAteer and M. Nuñez, supporting a front line of S. Egeli, C. Akpom and K. Scherpen. Arsenal’s probable lineup features David Raya in goal, protected by a defence of B. White, Gabriel Magalhães, Konsa and R. Calafiori. The midfield is expected to include Rice, M. Lewis-Skelly and Martin Ødegaard, with Bukayo Saka, C. Tzolis and Kai Havertz leading the attack. Betting analysts anticipate a comfortable win for Arsenal, citing their current form and dominant head-to-head record, with some suggesting the Gunners could cover a -1.5 goal handicap. Given Ipswich’s scoring ability, particularly after eliminating a Premier League side in the previous round, an open, high-scoring match is also considered plausible. UK viewers can watch the match live on Sky Sports+, with streaming available via the Sky Sports app and NOW TV. Match details: Competition: League Cup 2026/27; Date: 15 September 2026; Kick-off: 20:00 GMT; Venue: Portman Road, Ipswich.