After getting hammered 7-0 by Chelsea at the weekend, nobody gave Ipswich Town much hope against Arsenal in the Carling Cup semi-final. But with new boss Paul Jewell watching from the stands, Ipswich scored a last goal to beat Arsenal 1-0. Tamas Priskin was the Ipswich hero, holding off a defender before sliding the ball past arseanl goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in the 78th minute.
It leaves Arsenal with everything to do in the second leg return at the Emirates in a fortnight if they are to end their six-year wait for a trophy this season. Arsene Wenger admitted before the game that he was feeling the pressure from fans to deliver a trophy after Arsenal’s run of six years without any silverware. The Carling Cup seemed gift wrapped for the Gunners but nobody told Ipswich.
Even with Fabregas and Wilshere in midfield and Walcott, Arshavin and Bendtner up-front, Arsenal struggled to create openings against Ipswich’s defence which was looking more resolute than at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
With England under-21 striker Wickham creating all sorts of havoc for the Arsenal defence, the Gunners had to consider themselves lucky to go into half-time still scoreless.
In the second half Ipswich continued to push forward, looking for that goal they deserved and they finally got it 12 minutes from time. The Gunners lost the ball in midfield and Ipswich broke. Colin Healy sent Priskin clear and he beat Wojciech Szczesny with a low shot. One nil Ipswich.
Walcott nearly grabbed a late equaliser but Carlos Edwards almost made it worse for Arsenal only to be denied by Szczesny in the 88th minute.