Arsenal: Leno, Lichtsteiner, Mustafi, Monreal, Kolasinac, Torreira, Guendouzi, Elneny, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette
Subs: Cech, Jenkinson, Mavropanos, Xhaka, Ramsey, Iwobi, Nketiah
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Arsenal ground out three points against Cardiff City at the Emirates this evening, as second half goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette banished memories of a dismal first half and ensured the three points put Unai Emery’s team level with 4th placed Chelsea.
Unai Emery recalled Mesut Ozil to the side, making him captain, as well as bringing in Nacho Monreal, Mohamed Elneny and Stephan Lichtsteiner to the starting line-up.
There was an early chance for the Gunners when Kolasinac was set free by Guendouzi, but his low cross couldn’t be converted by Lacazette at the back post.
Torreira fizzed in a dangerous free kick which didn’t get any further Arsenal contact, and Cardiff could have gone ahead after unconvincing play in midfield and at the back saw Reid have a clear sight of goal but he fired wide from the edge of the box.
The same player then had an even better chance to score, meeting a cross from the Cardiff right, but he headed over the bar from 10 yards out, our defensive frailties on display yet again.
Niasse went down in the box with no penalty awarded, but replays shown it could easily have been given. Then at other end Lacazette could have had one of his own but stayed on his feet after a clumsy challenge in the box from Ecuele Manga, meaning the ref was happy to play on rather than give the obvious spot kick it was.
Cardiff had a good opportunity when a Monreal foul for which he was booked gave them a free kick just outside the D, but Ralls hit the wall and the ball deflected out for a corner.
By the 37th minute Arsenal still hadn’t had a shot on target, Ozil fed Lacazette whose cutback was cleared easily, but Cardiff looked more dangerous, taking advantage of slack defending and marking, with one low cross fizzing into the area but thankfully there was nobody there.
Low crosses from Ozil and Lacazette caused danger in the Cardiff box, but the game remained goalless at the break as Guendouzi picked up a yellow card on the way off for dissent.
After such a dismal first period, it wasn’t a surprise that Emery made a half-time change, bringing on Alex Iwobi for Mohamed Elneny. Guendouzi had the first effort of the second 45 but it failed to trouble the keeper, while at the other end Patterson shot wide from the edge of the box.
Mustafi required some treatment for an ankle knock after landing awkwardly, Patterson shot over again, and after an hour in which we had still to have a shot on target, Emery brought on Carl Jenkinson for Lichtsteiner.
Mustafi had to be alert to block a Niasse shot in our box, before Arter picked up a yellow card for a red card challenge on Guendouzi, and then it was third time lucky on the penalty front when Kolasinac was fouled in the box and amazingly Mike Dean pointed to the spot.
Aubameyang stepped up and stroked the ball home to give us the lead with our first shot on target. 1-0.
Iwobi forced Etheridge into a good save moments later, shooting from a tight angle when he might have looked for a pass but given how rarely we shoot you can’t blame him too much for having a go from that close to goal.
Kolasinac had a shot blocked, Lacazette curled one wide after it opened up for him for the first time in the game, before Emery made his final change of the evening when Aaron Ramsey replaced Ozil in the 75th minute.
Torreira had a pop from outside the box but couldn’t hit the target, Guendouzi saw an effort blocked, and Leno had to save from Zahore after Mustafi got caught running with the ball across his own box.
It was all Arsenal in the second half, but with just a one goal lead there are always nerves. Those were put to bed with a second goal in the 83rd minute. Lacazette picked it up on the right hand touchline, drove into the box, and despite the best efforts of the keeper the ball found the back of the net. 2-0.
It was almost three when good work from Guendouzi and Lacazette saw the Frenchman fashion a chance for Ramsey but his header dropped just wide.
Guendouzi, who had a good second half, found himself on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from Ralls who picked up a yellow card in the process.
In the 5 minutes of injury time, Mendez-Liang pulled one back for the visitors, yet another game without a clean sheet, but ultimately it was just a consolation.
Arsenal even had chances to seal it through Ramsey and Aubameyang but couldn’t find the finishes.
In the end, hard work, not exactly pretty, but three points are three points and we needed them above everything else.
With the defense we had, I will take this result as positive sign. Also, Utd is loosing and City still at 1-1. Not a bad day.
Let’s hope Scums will lose tomorrow.
It would have been better if the eventual result was that.
Hopefully we don’t face a backlash but can wound them further during the weekend.
On other side, it will give us confidence that we can Win (or at least Draw) against city.
Just wanted to say I fucking love Nacho Monreal. Yet another solid performance at CB from the Nacho-Man-Randy-Savage. Underrated player like Sagna was.
It wasn’t pretty but we needed the win and we got the win. Job done.
So, so happy for Laca. Deserved a goal last match and got one today. Proper team player.
Let’s be fair. It should have been 3-1. We all saw Kolasinac roll the ball in after the whistle ?
A quality finish I thought, bottom right
Moments’ respect for Sala, very sad.
United losing at last, and City too at the moment!
Well deserved win for us! Well done Auba and especially Laca for a great second goal.
Even thought we might get a clean sheet too…
jinxed it
United drew.
Ain’t over until the ref blows his whistle
Matter of time before they jump off the luck train.
There were some bad performances there but I thought Laca upfront was great, and Monreal at CB was encouraging .. But in the middle it was all Guendouzi for me. Was absolutely everywhere in the midfield making things happen.
I should add Kolasinac runs down that left flank are exhilarating … But just take a shot once in a while man!
Yes Guendouzi performed really well. I don’t know why opposition players always target him. I am worried about his leg.
He is targeted for a reason.
Pls explain. Honestly, I did not get it.
Because he is very good at football
He’s actually quite a strong lad for 19. Has been the target of some really nasty fouls over the season but has always kept going. I really like this kid. He will be an absolute monster for us over the next decade. Rarely have seen a boy at this age with such a presence on the pitch. Whatever they say about Sven. Guendouzi alone was worth hiring him.
And what is even scarier is he is getting better, especially at threading passes through the eye of a needle, Ozil like, in addition to being adept at pinging the ball, Xhaka like, at just 19?…talent of the kid is scary. Thank you Sven?
Goals scored aside, Laca and Auba are not suitable to play outside the box, both are technically limited, and not creative enough. Final results make people forget the match details. We failed over and over again in making simple passes or hold possession in final third. That is because we ask the wrong players to do stuff they’re not capable of. The absent final pass is due to the absence of technical wingers. 4-3-1-2 is a narrow formation, has it’s uses but we’ll struggle against opp who closes the flanks and presses from midfield. I’m beginning to see it is… Read more »
Don’t know what team you’ve been watching, but I happen to agree with Arsene when he said Laca could play as a No. 10. He’s one of the more technically gifted strikers I’ve seen.
You seem to be the kind of fan who thinks that because we won, then everything is ok. one needs to be blind to miss the glaring struggles we face to create the simplest attacking plays. I mean seriously do you just remember the goals from all the 90 mins? If that’s the case then my comment was not for you. Our attackers are at the heart of the problem described again, we paid dearly when Laca gave the ball away vs manu to score their 3rd, and Auba misplaced so many final third passes, to a point we he… Read more »
Use what you have to get what you need.
Guendouzi was impressive and Torreira was great – couple of lovely tackles.
So wanted Aaron to get a goal against Cardiff!
Coach’s instructions to cutback@eternalflamini
Champions League football. Whatever it takes. Because that defence needs a major overhaul next season.
A very good night. We win and United lose. Pity we can’t keep a clean sheet.
Fuck man United!!
Small margins…we are doing ok in my opinion. COYG!
Amen, brotha’.
Sadly not the case fatman manure have managed to steal a point. Still it’s two points dropped at home by them.
United 2 – 2…
When Lacazette SCORED M#@% Dean was desperate to invent a rule to disallow the goal.
I though Ozil did fine, showed glimpses of what he can give us, but he was asked to drop to deep to get the ball, a situation that does not suit him at all, it slows up our game and exposes him to pressure. We could chalk it up to Granit not being on the pitch, but still, it’s just a bad use of Mesut by the manager. Guendouzi keeps impressing me despite his flaws, especially because every opponent (no matter the team) tries to bully him, push him around, jump on his back, and still he plays his game… Read more »
Maybe Özil was compelled to drop deep because Guendouzi was too high…..
On averge, Özil scored in every fourth game for the national team, while he has scored in every fifth for Arsenal. Germany frequently played him as an attacker. In Arsenal, he has an ambiguous role, a sort of displaced midfielder.
almost a Mustafi clean sheet. good play lads!!!
Even though our play leaves so much to be desired, both the Mans would take our result tonight. And a good continuation of our front pairing of Laca and Auba!
Thumbs up for the name.
Guendouzi is a baller, he’s got so much personality on the pitch, I really like Xhaka… but I think he’s about to be pushed to the bench on a more consistent basis, by this exceptional teenager.
Mike Dean is hopeless, I thought we should have had 3 penalties and Cardiff 2, also thought Arter should have been given a straight red for going studs in on Guendouzi.
I like Guendouzi a lot, but as for Xhaka being pushed on the bench… There is really no substitute in the team for the way he passes the ball and allows our game to develop. I think we definitely miss him when he doesn’t play (in a midfield composition that suits him, that is!).
I hear you, but I still think Xhaka is too much of a liability.
Xhaka is not in the same role with Guendouzi
Mike Dean is bad. I am getting tired of teams setting up to just foul us, and when the ref is Mike Dean, it doesn’t help us at all. I have been watching Arsenal for 10 years (I know that is a lot less than many of you). Even now that we have a new manager, play different, brought in ‘some steel,’ it seems half the league still sets up to foul us. But whether a team sets up to just foul or not foul, the number of calls and bad decisions we have gotten from Mike Dean is awful.… Read more »
These games happen, combination of bus parking and us being slow. Hope people see what Iwobi brings. I see all his faults and he is frustrating but i also see a player who isnt afraid to instigate and break the monotony of sideways and backwards. Never hides even when having a mare. Continued respect for Ramseys attitude and he is another who does things different to the majority of the team.Thought Guendouzi was brilliant, best young cm we have had since fab and prime Jack. If we could find a player who can play with him and/or torreira we can… Read more »
As far as I’m concerned, Iwobi got us into the match by his positive style play. On his day he’s a decent player. Needs to work and improve of course, but he’s a useful player. Imagine if we bought wingers who can do that better, and consistently? I think we’ll see a massive improvement then. Even our defense will improve, if we acquired technically decent players who don’t lose the ball, or miss-pass as much. I recon a big part of our defensive troubles, generates from losing the ball way too easily on build up or under pressure. The all… Read more »
They dont link too well with the rest of the team other than Iwobi Ramsey and Ozil. The way we play with both fbs bombing on one poor pass and we get countered. Does not help that Lucas is our only natural ball winner. Alot of the team genuinely cant tackle.
Yep I’ll miss Rambo – top attitude.
Have to admit, I’ve been critical of Alex Iwobi-wobi …but today he made the difference.
Guendouzi is very good at football
Off topic… what a cracker by Calum!
Lacazette”s goal came after d 70th min,imagine if emery took him off….wonder how denis would fit into this team tho
Laca is a real man
Laca is a real striker
I hate Alan Smith. Before it had even been one minute ‘ohh it’s not a good start for Ozil’ after he got fouled. Everything he says is so annoying. He really dislikes Arsenal for someone who’s an ex player
Loads of them are upset Wenger never gave them a look in around the club.
Alan Smith has said many times he is not an arsenal fan.
Off topic – but how fat was Cardiff’s goal scorer? Whopper.
Christ that was a difficult watch, not least because my stream kept lagging. Drives me mad that does.
Got the win which is all that matters. Thought Guendouzi was excellent, his composure and passing range are outstanding, he is going to be a special player.
Alex Lacazette, what a man. Love his work rate. He is also very silky on the ball, he could play number 10 he is that good.
Respect to Cardiff pressing ahead with the game by the way, sure that’s what Sala would have wanted.
Weird how we’ve got Ramsey and Ozil but we only ever look like scoring when Kolasinac gets the ball…
Or when Alex Laca gets the ball
Iwobi is the less technical but stronger and faster Hleb. The master of the pass before the pass.
How good is Guendouzi? Sure, he got caught in possession once or twice but his fitness, attitude and positive forward passing are fantastic. If that was Ozil, we’d all be saying what a bargain he is at £350k a week. But Matteo is a raw 19 yr old from the French 2nd Division. I love that bloke.
Nobody noticed Mendez-Niang’s beautiful neck? Okay 🙁
The camera director was quite fond of him I thought.
What a woeful first half. BUT 1) Night and Day when IWOBI came on for Elneny. With the Egyotian we were I suppose erring on caution but we were still so iffy at the back, Unai just went for it. AND yet again, Left side produces everything at the moment. Superb pass from Iwobi linking with Kolasinac again for the penalty. 2) Lacazette. Auba may have the goals but he can’t hold up a ball to safe his life. Ducks out at every opportunity. With Lacazette, we have a warrior. Penalty decisions did not go his way (bc it was… Read more »
One thing I haven’t seen amongst the reactions on here was Alex Lacazette telling that vile Harry Arter to f*ck right off after his foul on Guendouzi, standing up for his young teammate. I’d say that situation gave us a much needed spark in the second half.
Great determination and finish by Laca, we are never out of it with him on the pitch. Dreary performance on a dreary night. These Tuesday evening games against the relegation fighters and also rans are banana skins for sure but we just about hopped over ours. Citeh lost and Manure equalized in Fergie time. Let’s hope the cherries can get three points off of the pub team up the road. Terrible first half. You can’t make up what has happened to our CB’s this season, if you write down the history of the injuries and unavailability it’s shocking bad luck.… Read more »