Ipswch Town vs Arsenal U21 will be loking to build up on their opening-day victories in the EFL Trophy when they meet at Portman Road on Tuesday.
Winners from the game in East Anglia will move to the brink of qualification to the knockout stages, with Northampon Town and Cambridge United also meeting in Group H on the same night.
While Ipswich were tipped to have a strong campaign during 2022-23, few people would have anticipated them coming through their opening nine matches without suffering defeat.
They have won six and draw three of their third-tier matches, with the latest draw coming on Saturday as they let slip a two-goal advantage away at Sheffield Wednesday.
The manner in which the point was earned will frustrate Kieran McKenna with his team having kept clean sheets in seven consecutive halves of football before their capitulation at Hillsborough.
However, the result kept Ipswich at the top of the standings, level on points with fellow unbeaten side Portsmouth, and McKenna will now want to build on their dominant victory over Northampton Town in their first game of this competition.
On the other hand, Arsenal U21’s 2-0 victory and clean sheet to boot was a fine achievement away at League One outfit Cambridge United.
Although the Arsenal youngstars are unbeaten in Premier League 2, recording a shutout against senior opposition was a feather in the cap for the young Gunners.
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji scored both goals at the Abbey Stadium, the attacker now established as one of Mehmet Ali’s key men in the final third.
While Ali’s side sit joint-top of their Premier League 2, they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. However, ahead of Tuesday’s contest, they will draw confidence from their last away game at Cambridge United, where they won 2-0.
Ipsiwch Town vs Arsenal U21 head to head
These two teams have previously met on just two occasions in the EFL Trophy, where Arsenal have won in both encounters, with the latest being through penalties. Arsenal have scored four goals and conceded three in the process.
Ipswich Town 1-2 Arsenal U21 08/09/20
Ipswich Town 2-2(P) Arsenal U21 01/12/21
Ipswich Town latest home form
Ipswich Town have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their four most recent matches. They defeated Bristol Rovers 2-0 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 13 goals and conceded just three.
Ipswich Town 0-1 Colchester United 09/08/22
Ipswich Town 3-0 Milton Keynes Dons 13/08/22
Ipswich Town 2-2 Barnsley 27/08/22
Ipswich Town 6-0 Northampton Town 30/08/22
Ipswich Town 2-0 Bristol Rovers 13/09/22
Ipswich Town latest away form
Ipswich Town have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their seven most recent matches. They drew 2-2 with Sheffield Wednesday in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded three.
Forest Green Rovers 1-2 Ipswich Town 06/08/22
Burton Albion 0-1 Ipswich Town 16/08/22
Shrewsbury Town 0-3 Ipswich Town 20/08/22
Accrington Stanley 0-2 Ipswich Town 03/09/22
Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 Ipswich Town 17/09/22
Arsenal U21 latest home form
Arsenal have recently been on a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their six most recent matches. They played out a 1-1 draw with Wolves U21 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 14 goals and conceded five.
Arsenal U21 3-1 Manchester United U21 06/08/22
Arsenal U21 2-1 Swansea City U21 17/08/22
Arsenal U21 4-1 Chelsea U21 20/08/22
Arsenal U21 4-1 Blackburn Rovers U21 03/09/22
Arsenal U21 1-1 Wolves U21 17/09/22
Arsenal U21 latest away form
Arsenal have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just one of their five most recent matches. They defeated Cambridge United 2-0 in their last away game in the EFL Trophy. In their last five matches, they have scored nine goals and conceded seven.
Ipswich Town 2-2(P) Arsenal U21 01/12/21
Wigan Athletic 1-0 Arsenal U21 25/01/22
West Ham United U21 2-3 Arsenal U21 12/08/22
Brighton U21 2-2 Arsenal U21 26/08/22
Cambridge United 0-2 Arsenal U21 30/08/22
Ipswich Town news
Freddie Ladapo, Greg Leigh and Harness will expect to come into the Ipswich XI, while defender Richard Keogh is also an option after making his League One debut at the weekend.
Cameron Burgess remains sidelined with a number of facial fractures, but Cameron Humphreys is in line to feature amon the replacements after injury.
Arsenal U21 news
Defender Henry Jeffcott and playmaker Amario Cozier-Duberry will both miss out for Arsenal after being called-up by Nothern Ireland U19 and England U19 respectively.
Billy Vigar and Josh Nichols to be handed opportunities in their place, with head coach Mehmet Ali having the rest of the squad at his disposal.
Prediction and Odds
Having already got a victory under their belts, Arsenal U21 will fancy their chances of claiming a surprise victory at Portman Road on Tuesday.
However, we cannot ignore the form of Ipswich Town, who we feel will egde out their visitors and take all three points in relatively comfortable fashion.
Odds: 1 2.21 X 2.05 2 2.32
Probable outcomes
Ipswich Town 1-0 Arsenal U21
Ipswich Town 2-0 Arsenal U21
Ipswich Town 2-1 Arsenal U21
Ipswich Town 3-1 Arsenal U21
Ipswich Town 4-2 Arsenal U21
















