Arsenal's forgotten man sends timely reminder at Ipswich with all eyes on Champions League

Saviours are traditionally celebrated on Easter Day, so let’s hear it for Leandro Trossard. As Arsenal liberated the title race from the OBE nobody wanted to see - Over By Easter - two-goal Trossard led their defiance.

To catch Liverpool, the Gunners will still not only have to roll away the stone but push it uphill in a wheelbarrow. But at Portman Road, the temple where Alf Ramsey and Bobby Robson procured miracles,

In a memorable concession to agnostics and heathens, Arsenal became the first club to play on Easter Day three years in a row. All Arteta’s eggs were in one basket long before the Gunners parked their combine harvesters on the Tractor Boys’ ranch - it’s Champions League or bust for Arsenal.

After their midweek heroics against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu, one of football’s great citadels, Ipswich away was supposed to be the sequel to the Lord Mayor’s show - tea and biscuits in the town clerk’s office.

Unfortunately for Liverpool, tuning in to events in Suffolk 125 miles away at the King Power, Arsenal didn’t get the memo. After 14 minutes of largely one-way traffic, Martin Odegaard missed out on a return pass from Bukayo Saka but Trossard managed to shovel his half-hit shot beyond the unsighted Alex Palmer.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

And before half an hour had elapsed, Ipswich were already resigned to their fate. Saka destroyed Jacob Greaves down the outside, Mikel Merino flicked on his low centre with an exquisite back-heel and lion of the Bernabeu Gabriel Martinelli arrived unmarked at the far post to devour his 50th goal for Arsenal.

Within two minutes Ipswich’s cause went from a long shot to hopeless, Leif Davis collecting a straight red for raking Saka down the back of his right ankle. With the benefit of TV replays, home fans who clapped off Davis and booed Saka’s subsequent touches would have adopted a more balanced view of the incident.

Nine days before Arsenal’s European semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, Saka was thankfully able to continue - and then missed a hat-trick of chances in eight minutes. The England winger grazed a post with one curling effort, shanked horribly wide from 10 yards and turned Trossard’s low cross beyond the post.

Saka was spared further punishment, making way for Ethan Nwaneri 12 minutes after the break, but there was no such respite for Ipswich. Trossard, afforded generous space from a short corner routine, ransacked his ninth goal of the season with preposterous ease before Nwaneri’s heavily-deflected effort sprayed more.

Ten-man Ipswich, who started with coveted top scorer Liam Delap on the bench because of a rib injury, we can deal with in short measure. They have flattered to deceive after a £120 million trolley dash - one of the Premier League’s biggest net spends - and they have been a big let-down.

Nobody expected them to blaze a trail to Europe after back-to-back promotions, but this year the only Tractor Boys to ruffle feathers in high places were the farmers who brought Westminster to a standstill in protest at having to pay inheritance tax like everyone else.

Ipswich are not down yet. But as the crucifixion scene fromn Monty Python’s Life of Brian goes: Out of the door, line on the left, one cross each. Next…

and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our