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Paul Merson sends message to Mikel Arteta as he predicts scoreline of Arsenal trip to Ipswich

Arsenal are in Premier League action on Sunday when they head to struggling Ipswich Town for a 2pm kick-off.

Although Arsenal are extremely unlikely to beat Liverpool to the Premier League title now, the Gunners will still be mindful of the teams behind them in the table.

There is currently a nine-point gap between Arsenal and sixth-placed Chelsea with 18 points left to play for, so the Gunners need to stay focused and get over the line.

Arsenal will be up against an Ipswich side currently 14 points behind 17th-placed West Ham and could be relegated if they lose against the Gunners and the Hammers beat Southampton.

Paul Merson has now predicted how Ipswich and Arsenal will fare in Sunday’s encounter at Portman Road as he shared some words of advice for Mikel Arteta.

Photo by Stephanie Meek - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Stephanie Meek – CameraSport via Getty Images

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Paul Merson urges Arsenal to aim for maximum points in Premier League as 3-1 win over Ipswich predicted

Merson has suggested that Ipswich are set to play Arsenal at a good time, considering the Gunners have “nothing to play for” in this match.

The Highbury legend urged Arsenal to aim for maximum points against Ipswich and Crystal Palace so the momentum is with them going into their Champions League semi-final tie against PSG.

But despite Arsenal having higher priorities at present, Merson still feels the Gunners will have too much for the Blues, predicting a 3-1 away win.

“I always say it’s all about timing in football,” Merson wrote on .

“Arsenal have just played that game against Real Madrid, already cemented their place in the top five and have nothing to play for in this game.

“So you would have to think this is a good time for Ipswich to be playing them, especially after they got a point off Chelsea last weekend.

I think Arsenal should just try to get maximum points from their remaining games even if they can’t win the Premier League title anymore.

“If they beat Ipswich here and then win against Crystal Palace, they can go into that PSG game with some serious confidence.

“Arsenal will rest a few players for this game, but I still think they will have too much for Ipswich to handle.

“I’d definitely play the likes of Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri in this game. Comfortable win for the Gunners in my opinion.”

Arsenal team news v Ipswich

Arsenal remain without Jorginho and Riccardo Calafiori, the former currently out with a chest issue and the latter nursing a knee injury.

Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel Magalhaes and Kai Havertz are also sidelined, though Havertz could yet return before the end of the season.

As for Ipswich, Jaden Philogene is expected to be out for the rest of the season after he sustained a knee injury during last week’s draw at Chelsea.

Liam Delap’s faces a late fitness test for a rib injury, while Omari Hutchinson and Kalvin Phillips remain on the sidelines.