From the vault: Four memorable wins at Ipswich

For the first time in 23 years, we’re heading to Portman Road for a league clash with Ipswich Town, and so you have to cast your mind back pretty far to remember some of our best Suffolk success.

However, there have been some memorable, incident-packed matches including penalties and own goals galore, as well as some outstanding individual displays and excellent strikes.

Here are four for you to enjoy again, or sample for the first time:

March 6, 1993
Ipswich 2-4 Arsenal

The two sides were paired together for this FA Cup quarter-final, and it would be a goal-filled affair. Future Gunner Chris Kiwomya put the hosts in front before Tony Adams bravely headed in an equaliser before the break. Ian Wright then won and scored a penalty before forcing Phil Whelan to put through his own net to put us on the brink of the semis.

However Bontcho Guentchev poked home to put that in jeopardy, but our passage was secured eight minutes from time when substitute Kevin Campbell got behind the defence and finished coolly as we took another step closer to cup glory.

April 10, 1993
Ipswich 1-2 Arsenal

A month later and we were back at Portman Road in league action, and just two minutes had passed when Nigel Winterburn lofted a cross into the box for Alan Smith to nod in, but when Martin Keown brought Kiwomya down inside the box, veteran defender John Wark made no mistake when he dispatched a spot-kick past David Seaman.

The tables would be turned after the break when Ipswich were awarded a second penalty when Winterburn tripped Steve Whitton, but this time Seaman made the save from Wark. That would be vital as three minutes from time, Paul Merson stepped up and drove a 30-yard free-kick past Clive Baker to seize all the points in style.

March 5, 1994
Ipswich 1-5 Arsenal

This would be the first of two hat-tricks Wright netted for us against Town, who relished playing against the Tractor Boys. His first goal of this particular afternoon was netted from a tight angle after Lee Dixon burrowed into the box, and 24 minutes in Eddie Youds scored a comical own goal as he stumbled trying routinely clear Anders Limpar’s centre.

The Swede then won a penalty which allowed Wright to add his second emphatically into the top corner, before Ray Parlour headed in a fourth on 52 minutes. A second crazy own goal, this time from Dixon, reduced the arrears for Town, but with time ticking away Wright latched onto a long pass from Adams to clinch the matchball and net his 27th of the campaign.

December 1, 2001
Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal

Our last league visit to Portman Road came against a Town side bottom of the league but set for a UEFA Cup clash with Inter Milan the following week. However, we piled the domestic misery on George Burley’s side just five minutes in when Thierry Henry pounced on a Titus Bramble error to slip in Freddie Ljungberg, who made no mistake.

The Swede was forced to clear a Hermann Hreidarsson header off the line to keep us an in front, but 11 minutes into the second half we were given a chance to double our lead from 12 yards when Ljungberg was fouled inside the area by Mark Venus, and Henry casually sent Matteo Sereni the wrong way to double our lead and send us second in the table.