(Credit: Getty Images)
(Credit: Getty Images)

Ipswich fans slaughter Leif Davis as explosive Arsenal footage drops

Jonathan Burnett

Jonny is a University of Leeds journalism graduate who became part of the FootballInsider team in Spring 2024, and recently worked as Head of Media for Widnes Vikings Rugby League club. Writing as a freelance reporter and commentator for The Sporting News and StatsPerform, he has covered matches in competitions including the FIFA Men's and Women's World Cups, as well as the Champions League, Women's Euro 2022, Six Nations and the Rugby Union World Cup.

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Leif Davis' "stupid" red card in Ipswich Town's 4-0 loss to Arsenal is the final straw for many fans.

Kieran McKenna's side are on the precipice of relegation to the Championship after being swept aside by the Champions League semi-finalists at Portman Road, with Arsenal unlucky not to double that margin.

The Gunners were 2-0 up and in cruise control before the half-hour mark had even passed in East Anglia, adding two more goals after the break having produced seven shots on target from 24 attempts in total.

Ipswich looked highly unlikely to turn things around before Davis' dismissal, and though McKenna's 10 men were able to limit Arsenal to just two more goals thereafter, their relegation is all-but confirmed.

Sundays' defeat to Arsenal leaves Ipswich on the brink (Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)
Sundays' defeat to Arsenal leaves Ipswich on the brink (Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

Leif Davis leaves Ipswich on the brink after Arsenal red card

Davis had already been badly exposed twice down the left-hand side of Ipswich's defence as Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli scored Arsenal's first two goals, but things soon escalated further.

With Bukayo Saka on the ball and facing his own net, Davis flew in on the Arsenal winger and caught him on the Achilles, raking his studs down the back of Saka's leg and getting nowhere near the ball.

IpswichStatisticArsenal
0Goals4
0.21xG2.72
0 / 4Shots on Target7 / 24
25%Possession75%
0Corners12
Arsenal could have scored many more than the four they managed at Portman Road [Credit: FotMob]

Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett exclusively told Football Insider that referee Chris Kavanagh was correct to swiftly show Davis a red card, with the 25-year-old facing a ban of at least three matches.

Ipswich will feel the affects of missing a key player for potentially the rest of the season, but so too will Arsenal, after Saka was spotted holding ice to his ankle after being substituted in the 57th minute.

Leif Davis Ipswich
Davis' form for Ipswich has been a huge drop-off from last season (Credit: Imago)

Ipswich fans run out of patience with 'stupid' Leif Davis

Davis' form in the Championship last season saw him produce 21 assists to help drive the Tractor Boys towards promotion, but his performances in the top flight have left a lot to be desired by comparison.

High-flying Newcastle were even urged to launch a transfer bid for Davis based on his displays last term, but Ipswich fans online were scathing after a dismissal which "sums up his season" at Portman Road.

With Davis viewed by some as nothing more than a Championship player, some "embarrassed" fans even took aim at their own, calling out Ipswich supporters for booing Saka after the red card.

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