Arsenal should have gone ahead in the eighth minute when good approach work from Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and Fredrik Ljungberg set up Edu unmarked on the edge of the area.

The Brazilian, however, blasted his shot high and wide. A Ljungberg attempt at a 20-yard curler met a similar fate three minutes later as Arsenal pushed forward in search of a breakthrough.

Adams sought to show the way, winning a tackle in typically robust fashion and bursting forward to carry the ball fully 45 yards before dragging a tame left-foot shot wide of Ipswich goalkeeper Andy Marshall’s left post.

Much of the Gunners early work was nervy, however an anxiety to get that vital first goal leading to the breakdown of many promising moves.

Ipswich, meanwhile, were striving valiantly to close them down with Marcus Stewart working particularly hard without ever looking dangerous.

Henry might then have given Arsenal the lead with a thunderous 20-yard drive which was fingertipped over the bar by Marshall.

Bergkamp was put through by Henry after 25 minutes and should have done better from eight yards, but the Dutchman managed only to drag a mis-hit shot straight into the arms of Marshall.

Ironically, it was defender Keown who provided the best pass of the half a 50-yard diagonal ball finding Henry in acres of space, but the Frenchman could only float a right-foot shot past Marshall and agonisingly just wide of the post.

Highbury was beginning to murmur with frustration and even when Bergkamp unleashed a thunderous shot after 38 minutes.

A minute later, however, Ipswich should have taken the lead with their best move of the first 45 minutes.

Finidi George raced down the right wing, leaving Ashley Cole in his wake, before picking out Martijn Reuser with a pinpoint cross.

Reuser rose and headed the ball down firmly only to see it strike the bottom of David Seaman’s right-hand post.