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In their final fixture of 2024, Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game midway through the opening period. Arsenal’s victory takes them back to within six points of leaders Liverpool, having played one match more than the Reds, and a point clear of Chelsea following their Boxing Day defeat to Fulham. Ipswich, although much improved in the second half, have now lost five of their last six games, and remain just one place off the bottom of the table, three points away from safety. Mikel Arteta’s men have been rocked by Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury which could keep the England winger, who has nine goals and 13 assists this season, out of action for the next two months. Gabriel Martinelli was handed the unenviable task of filling Saka’s shoes on Arsenal’s right-hand side and the Brazilian was involved in the only goal of the evening. The Ipswich defence failed to deal with Martinelli’s cross, with the ball falling to Leandro Trossard on the opposite side of the area. Trossard fought his way to the byline before fizzing his cross into the box for Havertz to convert from a matter of yards. It was Havertz’s third goal in four matches, his 12th of the season, and no less than the hosts, who at that stage of the match had enjoyed a staggering 91.4 per cent of the possession, deserved. Heading into Friday’s fixture, Arsenal had lost only one of their last 75 Premier League games when they had opened the scoring, and their triumph here rarely looked in doubt following Havertz’s strike. Havertz thought he had doubled Arsenal’s lead with 34 minutes gone when he converted Gabriel Jesus’ cross. But Jesus – handed his third successive start for the first time in a year – strayed into an offside position in the build-up. When referee Darren England blew for half-time, Ipswich had failed to touch the ball in Arsenal’s box, becoming just the second side to do so in the Premier League this season. Nottingham Forest were the other, away at Liverpool, before they went on to inflict Arne Slot’s sole defeat of his tenure so far. And for all of Arsenal’s possession, while they held just a one-goal advantage, Ipswich knew they were still in the game. An encouraging start to the second half for the Tractor Boys ensued, albeit without testing David Raya in the Arsenal goal. Shortly after the hour mark, Gabriel should have settled any growing Emirates nerves when he arrived unmarked to Declan Rice’s corner, but the defender headed wide of Arijanet Muric’s post when it looked easier to score. Martin Odegaard then forced a fine fingertip save from Muric at his near post after a mazy run and shot from the Arsenal skipper. Rice’s stinging goal-bound volley from the following corner was blocked by Dara O’Shea as Arsenal pushed for a game-killing second. Havertz should have tapped home Trossard’s header but he fluffed his lines. And moments later, substitute Mikel Merino’s effort was diverted from danger by a diving Muric. Ipswich looked to catch Arsenal on the counter, but the match ended without them registering a single effort on Raya’s goal. Ipswich fans goaded their opponents with chants of “boring, boring Arsenal”, but it was the Gunners who enjoyed the last laugh as they saw out 2024 with a win which keeps the pressure on Liverpool.OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Sira Thienou scored 16 points with six rebounds, five assists and four steals and No. 18 Mississippi coasted to an 89-24 win over Alabama State on Saturday. Starr Jacobs and Christeen Iwuala both added 12 points and Kennedy Todd-Williams had 11 for the Rebels (5-2), who had a breather after losing to No. 2 UConn by 13 in the Bahamas. Kaitlyn Bryant had seven points to lead the Hornets (2-5), who shot 19% with 33 turnovers and were outrebounded 43-25. Alabama State was 1 of 8 with 11 turnovers in the first quarter, falling behind 24-4. The Hornets were 2 of 11 with seven giveaways in the second quarter when they were outscored 33-6 to trail 57-10 at the half. The Rebels shot 58% with 28 points off turnovers. They scored the first 16 points of the game and the first 24 points of the second quarter. Ole Miss had the last five points of the third quarter and the first seven of the fourth to get the lead to 82-22. The Hornets went 1 of 10 in the final 10 minutes with 10 turnovers. It was Mississippi's third win against teams from the Southwestern Athletic Conference with one more to play. The Rebels play at NC State on Thursday in the SEC/ACC Challenge. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
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Maharashtra Assembly Polls: Decoding the Saffron TsunamiLONDON (Reuters) - Back-in-form Arsenal completed a high-scoring day in the Premier League with a 5-2 mauling of West Ham United as they sent out a message of intent to leaders Liverpool on Saturday. All seven goals arrived before halftime at the London Stadium as Mikel Arteta's side moved up to second in the table with a superb display of attacking football. They were not the only London club to hit the goal trail on Saturday, with Brentford hammering Leicester City 4-1 to move seventh. Bournemouth won 4-2 at Wolverhampton Wanderers with Justin Kluivert making Premier League history by becoming the first player to score a hat-trick of penalties. Nottingham Forest returned to winning ways with Chris Wood's penalty enough for a 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town that left them in sixth place in the standings. Crystal Palace scored late on to secure a useful 1-1 draw at home to Newcastle United and stay out of the bottom three. Arsenal's title hopes appeared to be in danger of disappearing before Christmas when they went four Premier League games without a win earlier this month but, with captain Martin Odegaard back from injury, they have rebounded in style. Odegaard and Bukayo Saka were the architects of a resounding Arsenal display which took their goal tally from the last three games to 13. It was only the fourth time a Premier League game had contained seven first-half goals and, despite his joy, Arteta said the head-spinning opening period was a little too exciting. "It tells you how crazy it was, how efficient both teams were in front of the goal. It was a spectacular 30 minutes," the Spaniard, whose side have 25 points -- six behind Liverpool -- told reporters. "I think it was great to score the fifth one as that calmed everything down and we could play a very different game that was much more suited to us." Saka's corner was headed in by Gabriel after nine minutes and Arsenal then tore West Ham to shreds, with Saka and Odegaard combining to tee up Leandro Trossard before Odegaard tucked away a penalty after Saka was hacked down. A minute after Odegaard's penalty, Trossard sent Kai Havertz away to make it 4-0 but West Ham hit back with Aaron Wan-Bissaka played through to score and Emerson then finding the net with a sensational free kick. For a while Arsenal were rocking but when West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski inadvertently punched Gabriel trying to reach a corner cross in a crowded area, the inspirational Saka slotted home the penalty for his fifth league goal of the season. VAN NISTELROOY SEES LEICESTER DEFEATED Bournemouth forward Kluivert said he was thrilled with his rare hat-trick at Wolves who dropped back into the bottom three. "That sounds beautiful (the record). To go in the history books, that's amazing, super happy with it," Dutchman Kluivert told Premier League Productions. Brentford have scored 26 Premier League goals, the same as Arsenal and only one fewer than top scorers Tottenham Hotspur. With new Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy watching from the stands, Kevin Schade netted a hat-trick for Brentford after Yoane Wissa's close-range goal had cancelled out Facundo Buonanotte's opener for the visitors. Palace were heading for a fourth home defeat as they trailed to an own goal by their England defender Marc Guehi but Daniel Munoz headed in a stoppage-time equaliser. Palace are in 17th place with nine points, the same as Wolves and Ipswich Town but with a better goal difference. Ipswich went down to Forest, for whom New Zealander Wood's penalty made him the club's joint-record Premier League scorer with 24, the same as Bryan Roy. Forest are in sixth place with 22 points. Attention now turns to Sunday's big clash at Anfield where victory for Arne Slot's Liverpool side over Manchester City would put them 11 points clear of the champions. Fifth-placed Chelsea host Aston Villa on Sunday while Manchester United are at home to Everton and Tottenham Hotspur take on Fulham. (Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Clare Fallon)
Caley Thistle boss Scott Kellacher confirmed injured defender Remi Savage could be fit to feature in Saturday’s League One trip to Montrose. The centre-half suffered a back injury late in the 2-0 Scottish Cup defeat at Cove Rangers at the weekend and is a doubt for the Links Park tussle. Before the cup tie, administration-hit Inverness beat Cove and Alloa Athletic in successive league matches as they seek to eat into the 10-point gap between themselves and eighth-placed Annan Athletic. With several players carrying injuries, having former Newcastle and Liverpool youth defender Savage available would be a big boost. Several players have 50-50 chances At his weekly pre-match press conference, Kellacher said: “We’ve had a few boys injured of late and two or three are 50-50 at the moment. We’ll wait and see “Remi Savage did a little bit of light running today, which was a boost. Keith Bray also did some running work (as he recovers from a shoulder injury). “We’ll see how they get on in terms of any reaction they might have, do a bit more work with them on Friday and see if they are in the picture for Saturday. “As much as we want them back, we can’t take chances in rushing them given the circumstances we’re in and the size of squad we have. “It is important we look after them and try to do the right thing by them. “The boys know that as well. I know they are trying to push themselves a wee bit, but we have to be sensible with them.” Also on the injury list are defenders Connall Ewan and Lewis Nicolson, with on-loan Dundee midfielder Charlie Reilly and defender Jake Davidson expected to be longer-term absentees. ‘Capable of beating anyone’ So far in League One, Cove Rangers have had the best running sequence of victories when they defeated Alloa, Queen of the South, Montrose and Dumbarton in October into November. Inverness are looking for nine points from nine as they look to move up the table. Kellacher said: “If you can put two or three wins together, the league changes every week. “Stenhousemuir are top of the league now, but it was Cove and it was Alloa recently. “All of the teams are more than capable of beating any of the other teams. “We’re capable of beating anyone on our day and that’s why we need to make sure we’re at it every week.” ICT ‘need to be at their best’ to win Former Ross County attacker Stewart Petrie has just celebrated eight years in charge of Montrose and it was ICT in August and Kellacher expects another tense affair. He added: “They have some very good players at Montrose. Stewart has done a great job. “It is a really hard place to go, and our boys are aware of that. “We played them down there last year (in the relegation play-off) and we remember how hard the game was (a 0-0 draw before a 1-0 home win). “We know we will have to be at our best to get something from the game and we’ll go down there and be as positive as we can.” Manner of victory won’t matter – boss This will be Kellacher’s sixth match in charge , and Inverness are showing signs of positive play paying off. He said: “It has been good more recently to see us get our rewards when we are in control of games, especially the two games against Cove and Alloa in the league. “Whatever it takes to win a game of football, whether it is an ugly, or a great performance, that’s where we’re at right now. “As long as we win the game of football, that’s what is most important.” Chase continues to catch Annan A controversial late penalty award for Cove, which Declan Glass scored from, riled Inverness last week in their Scottish Cup tie and the Missing out on the chance of a potential money-spinning fourth-round tie hurt, but Kellacher explained the focus has shifted. He said: “We were absolutely gutted last week with the way the game ended, but that’s in the past now. “Our focus is the league. We know what’s at stake and what we need to do in the next few weeks and months.” Dumbarton, who are also in administration and were also hit with a 15-point penalty, drew 2-2 with Alloa in midweek, On Saturday, the , while the team Inverness are hunting, Annan, are at home to fourth-placed Arbroath.
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