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Arsenal suffer shock defeat to Ipswich

Last Updated 13 January 2011, 16:20 IST

Their performance might not have matched their FA Cup upset win over the Gunners in the 1978 final but the Championship (second division) side, who sacked manager Roy Keane last week, can dream of a Wembley return thanks to a 78th-minute goal by Hungary striker Tamas Priskin.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, without a trophy since 2005, decided this was too good an opportunity to miss and fielded just about his strongest available side.
Cesc Fabregas was, as ever, at the heart of most of Arsenal's probings but the Premier League title-chasers were guilty of their usual sin of over-elaboration and struggled to carve out clear chances.

Fabregas did set up Andrei Arshavin early in the second half but the Russian shot badly wide with just keeper Marton Fulop to beat.

At the other end Connor Wickham, a burly 17-year-old forward, gave Arsenal's defenders a tough time and must have had Wenger wondering if a muscular presence such as his could be the missing link that would complete his neat-passing jigsaw.
The longer the game went on the more Ipswich grew in confidence and, having lost in the semifinals twice in the 1980s, their fans began to wonder if this could be third time lucky.

That result began to look possible 12 minutes from time when Ipswich's pounding of Arsenal's soft centre finally paid off.  Colin Healy played a long ball that caught out Johan Djourou and Priskin ran on to slot the ball past Wojciech Szczesny.

Arsenal increased the pressure in the dying minutes but could not find an equaliser, setting up a fascinating return leg at The Emirates on Jan 25.

Meanwhile, New manager Kenny Dalglish was again unable to deliver the Midas touch as Blackpool beat Liverpool 2-1 at Bloomfield Road to complete a remarkable Premier League double over the 18-times champions.

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(Published 13 January 2011, 16:20 IST)

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