Ipswich Town manager Gary O’Neil expressed optimism ahead of his team’s Carabao Cup third-round match against Arsenal, aiming to capitalize on the atmosphere at Portman Road and claim a significant victory for his supporters. The match is scheduled for Tuesday evening.

O’Neil reflected on Ipswich’s recent Premier League encounter with Liverpool, where the Tractor Boys fell 2-0 on a Friday night but showed promising signs despite the defeat. He noted that his side missed an opportunity to harness the energy of playing under the lights against a top-tier team, a shortfall he hopes to rectify against Arsenal.

“We can start the game well. We can take the fans with us in an attempt against, you know, beating one of the best sides around,” O’Neil said. He acknowledged that the worst outcome would be a loss, after which the team would aim to regroup and prepare for their upcoming match against Everton.

While recognizing that both clubs are likely to rotate their squads for the cup fixture, O’Neil indicated confidence in his preparations, although he stressed the challenge of containing Arsenal’s quality on the pitch. Quoting the sentiment that “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth,” he underlined the difference between tactical planning and in-game execution.

The Ipswich manager praised Arsenal’s strength in depth under Mikel Arteta, describing their squad as arguably the best in the Premier League. “The strength and depth that Mikel has is unmatched and unrivalled,” O’Neil said, noting that even with extensive changes, Arsenal would still field a formidable lineup. He also acknowledged Arsenal’s consistency in gameplay, which simplifies strategic preparations, though stopping their attacking approach remains difficult.

In addition, O’Neil highlighted the positive attitude of squad players such as Darnell Furlong and Anis Mehmeti, who were not included in the recent 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace. He commended their professionalism and training efforts following the match and expressed confidence in whoever is selected to represent the team against Arsenal.

“Whoever I pick, I have 100 per cent faith that they’re ready and they’re going to represent what we do and how we go about it,” he said, emphasizing the importance of unity and commitment within the squad ahead of the challenge against one of England’s top clubs.