Result: Cardiff 2-3 Arsenal
Competition: Premier League
Date: 2 September 2018
Venue: Stamford Bridge Cardiff Stadium
Alex Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both got off the mark for the season as Arsenal overcame a tenacious Cardiff side 3-2 in the Welsh capital. Victor Camarasa cancelled out Mustafi’s early header in stoppage time of an entertaining first half before Aubameyang restored our lead just past the hour mark with a beautiful curling effort. Danny Ward’s header forced us to dig deep and it needed a real moment of quality from man-of-the-match Lacazette to win it. Spinning his man with six minutes remaining, he made space to hammer home at the near post to justify his first start of the season.
Starting XI
Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Sokratis, Monreal, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Subs: Leno, Lichtsteiner, Holding, Elneny, Torreira, Mkhitaryan, Welbeck
1’ – Cech stays calm, just!
Twice inside the opening minute the home side close down back passes to our keeper. Thankfully, despite stumbling on the ball the first time he keeps his head and works a pass away from danger. That could have been a disastrous start.
2’ – 4-2-3-1
Aaron Ramsey has the number 10 role but the positioning of Aubameyang and Ozil hints at a fluid formation in attack. Aubameyang has been floating on the right, but he’ll no doubt end up on the left.
4’ – Huge let off!
Cech tries to play out from the back again but this time his pass goes straight to Arter inside the box. The midfielder takes a touch and looks destined to score but hammers wildly over. It’s a real let-off for our keeper. He’s spotted trying to blame Guendouzi for not giving him an option, but he has to take responsibility for that cock-up.
8 – Chance Gunners!
A well-worked corner sets up Ramsey who draws a save from Etheridge. From the follow-up Mustafi, on the stretch, hits over.
10’ – Panic in the Cardiff defence
Aubameyang nearly diverts Bellerin’s low drive past Etheridge. The Blues scramble the ball for a corner.
11’ – ⚽ GOOOAAAAALLLLL Arsenal 1-0 (Mustafi)
Mustafi throws himself at Xhaka’s set-piece and buries it in the top corner with his head. An unstoppable effort. On the touchline, Emery celebrates with high fives for assistant Juan Carlos Carcedo.
15’ – Close, Monreal!
The Spaniard anticipates a mistake by Manga who horribly skews a clearance in his own box. Our left-back should shoot first time but the angle is closed down quickly and the chance passes.
19’ – Double chance Cardiff
Reed takes on Sokratis and plays a dangerous ball across the six-yard box. Ward, who has escaped Mustafi, can’t reach the ball with the goal gaping. Hoilett picks up the scraps, cuts inside Bellerin and fires over on the angle. That was close.
21’ – Cynical
Cardiff break from a corner and Bellerin barrels into a man in Blue. It’s a ‘good’ foul. We’ve been pretty diligent at trying to implement the high press in midfield areas. It’s not always been successful, but we’re snapping away.
25’ Yellow card Monreal
A clumsy challenge sees the Spaniard in Anthony Taylor’s book. The incident comes moments after the referee had failed to give the Gunners a corner, a decision that left Monreal apoplectic.
29’ – Arsenal living dangerously
An overhead kick by Bobby Reid goes just over Cech’s bar as we panic trying to clear a cross.
33’ – Off the post!
Ramsey plays the ball to Lacazette who uses a run from Bellerin as a decoy to make space before unleashing a low daisy-cutter on the angle. It’s off the post and evades the men in red looking for the rebound. The Frenchman would have deserved that, he’s been lively.
35’ – Great break Gunners
Cech claims a free ball from a corner and throws it straight to Ozil on the halfway line. He feeds Lacazette and bounds forward but when the Frenchman tries to return the ball to him it’s cut out in the box.
42’ – Arter over…again!
For the second time this afternoon, Harry Arter blazes over. This time he attempts a first time volley from 18-yards out and again he skies it. He really should have tested Cech; given he was under no pressure he might even have taken a touch first.
45’ + 1 – ⚽ Goal Cardiff 1-1
The home side have been pushing for 10 minutes and their pressure finally pays dividends. Xhaka gives the ball away in midfield, the home side work the ball out to the left where Bennett, under no pressure, plays a ball into the danger zone. It falls to Victor Camarasa who evades Sokratis to smash home. Apparently the Spaniard was once in the youth ranks at Unai Emery’s Valencia. Go figure.
Half time: Cardiff 1-1 Arsenal
It’s been a very open game and we’ve had chances to put the game to bed, notably Lacazette’s effort hitting the post, but Cardiff fully deserve their equaliser. For all our closing down in tight areas in the centre of the pitch, we’ve not done it out wide and it’s from the flanks that the home side have been whipping in dangerous balls. That, coupled with our usual nerviness playing out from Cech, have dampened the momentum we built up in the opening 15 minutes. This game is there for the taking, we just need to keep our heads.
46’ – No changes at the break
Cech’s poor distribution immediately has us under pressure again. This time Hoilett lines one up from 25-yards out and fires wide. Emery has opted not to make any substitutions at half time but if things don’t change he’ll no doubt switch things up soon.
49’ – Half chance Laca
The Gunners win a corner after Monreal’s cross is cut out by Morrison at the near post. Ozil plays the ball in and Cardiff can’t clear. Lacazette is waiting to pounce but the ball won’t come down for him and he’s left stretching. His effort goes over.
51’ – Yellow card Bellerin
The Spaniard joins Monreal in the book for a deliberate handball.
53’ – Ooooh, Mustafi!
The theme in our first three games has been goals from movement down the right. Today we look more dangerous on the left with Ozil and Monreal repeatedly combining. Another corner is won from a blocked cross by the Spaniard and Mustafi tests Etheridge with another header.
58’ – Yellow card Guendouzi
The French teenager takes out Camarasa off the ball as Cardiff break. Taylor spots the offence and shows the card when the ball goes out
62’ – ⚽ GOOAAAAALLLLLLL Arsenal 2-1 (Aubameyang)
Brilliant. Just brilliant. Lacazette plays a delightful flick around the corner to Auba. He opens up his body and curls it past Etheridge for his first goal of the season. It’s such a composed finished, the type we used to get from Thierry Henry.
65’ – Yellow card Xhaka
The Swiss pulls back a Cardiff player on the touchline and goes in the book. Will Emery take him out of the danger zone like he did against Chelsea?
66’ – Sok it to ‘em
Sokratis makes an important defensive header having initially messed up positioning. It’s high-fives all round from his defensive cohorts. Ramsey claps his teammates, he can sense a swing in momentum and urges concentration.
69’ – ⚽ GOAL Cardiff 2-2
Anthony Taylor awards a free-kick for a non-existent foul by Lacazette on Arter and the resulting set piece is headed across goal before Ward heads in off the post. So much for concentrating.
71’ – Time for Torreira
Matteo Guendouzi goes off and our Uruguayan midfielder comes on. He’s immediately taken out by Hoilett.
74’ – Unlucky Laca!
Lacazette’s near post header from a Xhaka corner forces Etheridge to get down low. Mustafi is desperate to turn in the rebound but the big keeper claims the ball bravely.
77’ – Brilliant football Gunners
Torreira, Xhaka, Ozil and Lacazette combine with quick one-touch football to free Bellerin. The Spaniard whips in a ball from the byline but it evades a red shirt.
79’ – Watch out Arsenal!
Cardiff’s tenacious pressing twice wins the ball in dangerous areas resulting in half chances.
81’ – ⚽ GOOOAAAAAALLLLL Arsenal 3-2 (Lacazette)
An awesome finish from our man of the match! Torreira feeds Lacazette who escapes Bamba on the turn and smashes high into the roof of the net at the near post. He deserves that goal for a performance brimming with energy and forward intent.
83’ – Ch-ch-changes
Ozil goes off to be replaced by Danny Welbeck’s energy. Neil Warnock, the fat troll, responds by replacing Danny Ward with Kenneth Zohore.
87’ – More changes
Mkhitaryan comes on for Aubameyang and Gary Madine replaces Camarasa. Not long after the fourth official confirms there’s
90 + 1’ – So close to an equaliser
WTF Cech! Morrison heads over from three yards out after our keeper is caught in no man’s land. It’s all come from another set piece. We’ve been terrible defending them today.
90 + 3’ – Yellow card Arter
The midfielder takes out Torreira as Arsenal look to break.
90 + 4’ – Last chance Cardiff
Xhaka is penalised for handball and the Blues have another chance to loft the ball into Cech’s box. What havoc will ensue? None, thankfully. It sails out for a goal-kick. The travelling support breathe a sigh of relief. “Unai Emery’s Red Army,” they sing as the Gunners break. Lacazette and Ramsey both have chances to put a gloss on things bu Etheridge is equal to them before the whistle blows.
Full time: Cardiff 2-3 Arsenal
An important three points for the Gunners before the Interlull. The difference came courtesy of two brilliant finishes by players that cost us the best part of £112 million. Aubameyang and Lacazette demonstrated sheer quality and it just about covers up for our deficiencies defending set pieces. On this occasion anyway. We’ve still got lots of work to do but after a terrible run of results on the road in 2018 it’s great to have our first away points under the new boss. We’re into the top half of the table!
Well at least we’re wining even without the best of performances.
It’s a positive.
If we reduce those stupid unforced errors (that Xhaka pass), we’ll make it much easier for ourselves.
Scraped an away win against one of the weakest teams in the PL, who hadn’t scored 1 goal, let alone 2 yet. Defence and organisation needs lots of work.
Love Auba and Laca together, loads of goals there.
There’s two ways of looking it at. We scored more goals against a good defence than they have let in all season. But our D needs lots of work too. The chances we gave them at the end were worrying, we need to control the game with a lead that late.
This away win feels delicious! Having said that, we’ve still got defence issues to sort out though.
Aaah!! Match Report how I’ve missed you old friend
What’s been up with the news site? I couldn’t get on at all yesterday, redirected by some Cloudflare Ddos thing!?
Ps don’t think Cardiff play at Stamford Bridge
It’s still happening. You’ll see similar page when you open torrentz2(.)eu website
Feel like Cech is going to get a lot of shit again in spite of playing reasonably well… If Sokky tried to not pass the ball like it was made of lead, Cech might have a chance. Not to mention Cech always seems to have the ball passed to his non-preferred and three feet behind him.
For Emery’s game he has to be able to handle that. I agree, Socrates left him in a tight spot on a couple, but that’s the game they’re asked to play and Cech has got to be able to make the right decision to go long when he’s out of space. He’s got no one but himself to look at for that gift to Arter. Cech is an excellent shot stopper when on form, and has really shown that in a coupe of our matches this season already. But with his distribution and play with the ball at his feet… Read more »
Lacazatte was top-notch. Probably his best performance so far for Arsenal. His pressing game is really impressive. One lead to a goal and another chance created . I will be really pissed if he doesn’t start next game. More importantly, him and Auba seems to be loving it together! Look at their celebrations!
Just feel that we played with more control after Torreira comes in. Noticed that against Westham too. Xhaka and him will be a more balanced midfield in my opinion.
Laca in my opinion is our best player at the moment. Torreira will be our 2nd best when he finally replaces Xhaka…
Surely time to return Ramsey to no 8 and alongside torreira. Thank you Guendouzi, lots of promise but not ready to start every match, yet.
Laca and Auba need to be starting
At this point it looks to me like Ramsey’s future lies in a more advanced role for high pressing or on another team.
The last thing I’d like to see is him upfield with the strikers while Torreira tries to save our CB’s all by himself on the counters.
Laca’s best performance? I’ve always thought he’s our most lethal weapon around the opposition’s goal. If you’ve always followed him you’d know he’s got that no-nonsense streak about him when in the box. I wouldn’t bench him for anyone in our team. I actually thought that was typical Lacazette yesterday. He rarely fluffs his lines by much
Yes. I understand that. He never goes below a certain level whenever he plays. But I would still say it was his best performance because he took it all upon himself when everyone around him were not upto the mark. He showed the way with his constant pressing and tireless attitude.
I have been a fan ever since he came ! He is such a classy player.
petr cech makes good saves and still has great reflexes but his in game decision making has really gone bad, like the short passes in the first half and the 90th minute howler which was left unpunished
Starting to look good and dangerous going forward, bit scary at the back still and Cech playing out from the back is pushing me close to heart failure.
Three points in the bag and a couple of weeks to tighten up that defence. Happy days ahead.
Finally got the Laca-Auba combo we’ve been waiting for
Not a great performance. We are such an unbalanced team. Fundamentally we lack players whom we can hit quickly from deep to carry the ball and go at opponents with pace or guile. Which means we try to build from the back bc we can’t push our fullbacks up for width. Nor is Aubameyang as effective as a winger but then neither was Henry. Bc we carry more pass and play types like Ozil, Mhki and Ramsey, we tend to try and pick through with passes rather than engage and instigate. Many time that means passing sideways and backwards. I… Read more »
Comparing any player to Henry is stupid. He was the best player in the world for a couple of years till Messi arrived
Could you please explain how attempting a lofted 50 yard crossfield pass with 30 seconds left till the break a was a ‘good idea’? Personally I thought it was an absurd idea.
Quite an interesting comment. I think xhaka should be playing with torreira. Xhaka’s weaknesses would be covered by torriera in there
I agree. Xhaka was never a pure DM. He plays a more advanced role with Switzerland and excels at it. Xhaka with Torreira would be a superb midfield.
Venue is showing ‘Stamford Bridge’.
That Lacazette’s goal was bang! I love his control ans and shooting instinct
He had just one option there. Hard and high with less than 10% of goal to aim for! Awesome strike!
That was Wrighty-esque. Get into a shooting position and back yourself to score. Pick a spot and boom before the goalie can react. Loved it. 😀
@arseblog….SI don’t reckon the match venue was Stamford bridge. Delighted the site is back and running though. Good win everyone 🙂
Finallyyyy, it is in..
That laca goal reminded me of one of Podolski’s rocket shots. Oh how i miss that man
Not alone mate. Always rated Poldi (though if you were to listen to the podcasters, you would think he’s only good at instagram).
Blogs………where are you Blogs???!!!
good win for the spirits. but nothing changed really. the wenger men doing the same errors under a new coach. am a bit perplexed by emery ‘s choice. we got Torreira , LIchsteiner, and Leno because we had defensive issues to sort out and four games in we barely played them and the only new face who is a starter is a promising young kid error prone.sounds too familiar for me.
Lacazette easily MotM, arguably the perfect CF performance. Pressing, link up play, movement and goals/assists. Can’t ask for anything more. Surely now first choice. Very mixed game for Ozil. Still suspect he’ll never truly make a success out of the right wing, he only started to perform yesterday when he abandoned his flank (and Bellerin) totally. Truth is if any other player played on the right and offered so little support to the full back theyd have been slaughtered. To my mind we’re still the only team in the league that plays without a proper DM. Xhaka-Guendouzi is not a… Read more »
We’ve actually learnt nothing so far this season. Yesterday was the same as the other 3 matches: we’re all attack and no defence.
Entertaining stuff, but scary: we’ll get hammered by the big boys.
After warnocks comments about Ramsey you could say that was rough justice
Seems we can cheat as well
The report doesn’t mention how poor the ref was. I’ve just watched the game again on ArsenalPlayer and for some reason Taylor seems ok with Cardiff playing rugby rules.
I guess he got confused being in wales.
They could easily have ended up with 7 or 8 yellows but only got 3 whilst we got 4… at least 2 of them being unjustified.
Taylor really is a cunt.