Along with fellow defender White and Saka, Takehiro Tomiyasu is Arsenal’s other long-term absentee at present, having suffered a knee injury during pre-season and then sustained a fresh setback after just one six-minute cameo appearance off the bench against Southampton in the Premier League in early October.

Mikel Arteta will not be able to operate with total freedom in the January transfer market thanks to Raheem Sterling and fellow Arsenal struggler Neto.

The contest initially had an Arsenal vs. Everton feel to it, as Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna switched to a 5-4-1 setup in the hope of nullifying the Gunners' attackers, just as Sean Dyche 's team did at the Emirates two weeks ago.