Arsenal made it back-to-back victories in the Premier League by overcoming Cardiff City 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The Gunners took the lead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's 66th-minute penalty after the visitors, still mourning the suspected death of record signing Emiliano Sala, spurned a number of opportunities.
Alexandre Lacazette added a second late on and, while Nathaniel Mendez-Laing did manage to pull one back in added time, the hosts held on to move level on points with the top four.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Arsenal and Cardiff City at the Emirates Stadium. Cardiff are in action for the first time since the plan carrying club-record signing Emiliano Sala, as well as pilot David Ibbotson, went missing somewhere over the English Channel. The search for Sala resumed at the weekend, but it is now a recovery mission and not a rescue mission.
City boss Neil Warnock described the last seven days as the toughest of his long managerial career, but both sides agreed for tonight's game to go ahead as planned. The travelling supporters staff members will wear yellow daffodils - the national symbol of Wales and also the same colour as Nantes' home strip. Arsenal have also paid tribute to Sala by including his name on the back of today's matchday programme.
The outcome of today's game may be of secondary importance in the grand scheme of things, but the show does ultimately go on. Cardiff can move out of the relegation zone if they pick up victory, assuming Newcastle United fail to overcome Manchester City, while Arsenal can draw level with the top four if they make it back-to-back victories in the top flight. Without further ado, let us check out some confirmed team news...
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Leno; Lichtsteiner, Mustafi, Monreal, Kolasinac; Elneny, Guendouzi, Torreira; Ozil; Lacazette, Aubameyang
SUBS: Cech, Jenkinson, Mavropanos, Xhaka, Ramsey, Nketiah, Iwobi
The big team news as far as Arsenal are concerned is that Mesut Ozil comes in for his first start since the 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Boxing Day. The German playmaker was withdrawn at half time in that match and has featured just once since, but he is now back involved in a rejigged formation. Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang retain their places in the side, as Unai Emery seemingly goes with a 4-3-1-2 of sorts.
Ozil will also captain Arsenal this evening on his return to the side, starting just behind - or possible alongside - Lacazette and Aubameyang. The Gunners show seven changes in all from their 3-1 loss to Manchester United here four days ago, three of those coming in the backline. Sead Kolasinac is the only player to keep his place in defence, as Stephan Lichtsteiner, Shkodran Mustafi and Nacho Monreal all come in. Bernd Leno also takes over from Petr Cech in goal.
Emery has a defensive crisis of sorts, as Sokratis Papastathopoulos damaged his ankle against Man United and is to miss around two weeks of action, while the facial injury sustained by Laurent Koscielny may keep him out for a similar length of time. Rob Holding is already a long-term absentee, as is Hector Bellerin, so this is very much a makeshift back four fielded by the hosts. Could that explain the inclusion of Matteo Guendouzi, Mohamed Elneny AND Lucas Torreira in midfield?
CARDIFF CITY TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Etheridge; Peltier, Manga, Bamba, Bennett; Gunnarsson; Paterson, Arter, Ralls, Reid; Niasse
SUBS: Smithies, Cunningham, Mendez-Laing, Healey, Harris, Hoilett, Zohore
Cardiff have had 10 days off since their most recent outing, a 3-0 loss to fellow strugglers Newcastle United, but their preparations have of course been disrupted by the tragic disappearance of Sala. Speaking on the eve of this game, Warnock admitted that he would pick a starting lineup comprised of players that are mentally ready to play, rather than fielding the XI he perhaps would have had this match been played a little over a week ago.
There are three changes in all for Cardiff from that loss at St James' Park, including a return for key midfield man Harry Arter, who sat that one out because of a knock. Arter is joined in the starting lineup by Bobby Reid and Aron Gunnarsson, with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Victor Camarasa and Junior Hoilett all making way. Camarasa has been arguably Cardiff's best player this term, so his absence from the matchday squad is a major blow.
Cardiff's formation has a different look to it with Camarasa not included. One thing we do know is that Oumar Niasse will start as the central striker, having made his debut at Newcastle just over a week ago, and support will be provided in the attacking areas by Callum Paterson and Bobby Reid. Arter, Joe Ralls and Gunnarsson are the players tasked with sitting deep and protecting the back four, with City's gameplan likely to be keeping things as tight as possible for as long as possible.
Cardiff City, and indeed the whole footballing world, was rocked by the news that the plane carrying Emiliano Sala went missing last Monday. Sala remains missing and is now presumed dead, despite the best efforts of his family to keep the search going. The Argentinian striker never got to kick a ball for his new club, who are in action tonight for the first time since that tragic incident.
Arsenal start the match sitting fifth in the Premier League, three points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea after picking up a huge 2-0 win over their London rivals last time out in the league. Lacazette and Koscielny netted for the Gunners to close the gap on the Champions League spots in what was a professional display from start to finish. The Blues are not in action until tomorrow night, so this is a big chance for Emery's men to close the gap completely.
The Gunners have stuttered somewhat in the Premier League as they have not won back-to-back matches since seeing off Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur two months ago, picking up 14 points from a possible 27 since then. Arsenal have suffered defeats at Southampton and West Ham United during that run, while also losing heavily to Liverpool and drawing with Brighton.
The pressure was on ahead of the visit of Chelsea last week, then, and Emery did not exactly pull any punches before a ball was kicked. The Spaniard admitted that it was essentially win or bust for his side - win they did, and all of a sudden their top-four aspirations are back on track. Arsenal take on two sides in the bottom three over the next couple of weeks, sandwiching a trip to champions Manchester City next Sunday, and they also face Southampton and Bournemouth here before the end of February.
There is a real chance for Emery's side to build some momentum, which they have failed to do since last winning successive games in late November/early December. The Gunners can no longer add domestic silverware to their collection in the Spaniard's first season at the helm, however, as they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Man United last Friday, falling to a 3-1 defeat here in round four of the competition.
Arsenal were undone by a couple of quickfire goals from United and were then picked off on the counter late on, seeing them exit the FA Cup fairly early on for the second season running. Focus is now on the Premier League and finishing in fourth place, while the Europa League - a competition that Emery won three times in a row with Sevilla - also offers a direct route into next season's Champions League if they go all the way and lift the trophy.
BATE Borisov stand between Arsenal and a place in the last 16 of the Europa League, with that double-header pencilled in for next month. Before then, the Gunners have league games against Cardiff, Man City and Huddersfield to prepare for - six points will be the minimum target from that set of fixtures, and should be enough to keep them firmly in top-four contention. Defeat to either of the Prem strugglers, though, and the Gunners may well become the top flight's latest 'crisis club'.
DID YOU KNOW? Arsenal have won five Premier League home matches in a row - beating Tottenham Hotspur, Huddersfield Town, Burnley, Fulham and Chelsea - since back-to-back draws against Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers in early October. The Gunners have scored 14 goals during that run and conceded four, while going further back it is 11 top-flight matches without defeat at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal have won 32 and drawn one of their last 33 home league meetings with teams in the relegation zone, stretching back to a defeat at the hands of West Ham United in April 2007. They are also unbeaten in their last 23 matches against newly-promoted sides at the Emirates Stadium, winning 20 of those and keeping a clean sheet in 20. Having kept a clean sheet against Chelsea, Arsenal can make it back-to-back shutouts in the league for just the second time this term if they keep out Cardiff tonight.
Arsenal were knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United last Friday, falling to a 3-1 defeat here to the country's most in-form side. Prior to that, though, the Gunners saw off top-four rivals Chelsea 2-0 to move to within three points of their opponents, keeping their top-flight campaign well and truly alive. Arsenal boast a good home record and tend to see off teams in the relegation zone with relative ease.
Cardiff make the trip to London occupying 18th place in the Premier League, two points adrift of safety. The 1-0 win over Leicester City on December 29 provided the Bluebirds with the high point of their campaign; since then they have lost 3-0 to Tottenham and Newcastle, either side of a 0-0 home draw with Huddersfield. One league win in seven has seen them drop back into the relegation zone, which is where many expect them to stay.
The Welsh side follow up this difficult test against Arsenal with winnable matches against Bournemouth and Southampton, before a couple more home matches against Watford and Everton. Cardiff should not be written off just yet, then, and they have already climbed out of the relegation zone once before this season. If they are to move back above the dotted line, though, they quite simply need to start scoring some more goals.
This is of course a delicate subject, as Warnock moved to bring in the man he felt was capable of solving his side's goalscoring issues. Sala was only outscored by a couple of players in Ligue 1 in the first half of the campaign, and his £15m arrival was seen as a pretty big coup for the Bluebirds. The Premier League will not grant City any further time to sign new players, so it appears likely that Warnock will have to use the tools already at his disposal.
Cardiff have failed to score in 11 of their 23 Premier League matches so far, a joint-high alongside Huddersfield, and their tally of 19 goals all term is bettered by 17 other sides. In fact, the Bluebirds have failed to score in any of their last three league matches and have scored once in their last five - Camarasa's memorable strike at the King Power Stadium to secure a rare away win for Warnock's charges.
The Welsh side also crashed out of the FA Cup to lower-league opposition in Gillingham at the third-round stage to make it three losses and a dire home draw with Huddersfield in their four matches this calendar year. Throw the Sala tragedy into the mix and it is fair to say that 2019 is not going as planned for City. Warnock will hope that his side can produce a memorable performance tonight to honour Salah, however, which would help to kickstart their campaign.
Cardiff are the only side yet to lead at half time in a Premier League match this term and have been in front for a total of 93 minutes across their 23 fixtures. The omens do not look good for City boss Warnock, meanwhile, as he has lost on all three of his previous top-flight trips to Arsenal, each with a different team and each in a different decade: Notts County in 2991, Sheffield United in 2006 and Queens Park Rangers in 2011.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 14 competitive meetings with Cardiff City, winning all three of the previous Premier League encounters - including a 3-2 win in South Wales just under five months ago when the Bluebirds twice fought back from a goal down before Lacazette sealed a hard-fought win for the Gunners less than 10 minutes from the end.
Cardiff have lost their last six away meetings with Arsenal in all competitions, meanwhile, and they have only ever won twice against the Gunners in the top flight - both those victories coming in the 1960-61 season. The Bluebirds' most famous hour did come against the North London outfit, though, as they won the 1927 FA Cup final at the old Wembley to take the famous trophy out of England for the only time in its history.
With kickoff in the English capital now just a couple of minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Unai Emery: "Our focus now is very clear - the Premier League. We're also going to play the Europa League with big motivation. It's one way to the Champions League. We need to be concentrated for the three points like we were against Chelsea."
Neil Warnock: "It has been a traumatic week and even now I can't get my head around the situation. It's impossible to sleep. I've been in football management for 40 years and it's by far the most difficult week in my career, by an absolute mile. It's probably hit me me harder than anyone else as I've met the lad and talked to him for the last six to eight weeks."
KICKOFF: Following a minute's applause in tribute to missing Cardiff striker Emiliano Sala and his pilot Dave Ibbotson, the visitors get the game underway at the Emirates Stadium.
CHANCE! Almost the perfect start for Arsenal as Etheridge tips Kolasinac's cross into the path of Lacazette. The Frenchman had time to compose himself, but his shot was blocked in front of goal by Cardiff centre-back Manga.
Arsenal are dominating possession in the early stages of the match. They have already had one good chance, which Lacazette probably should have done more with, but that aside they have not really been penetrative enough.
Niasse drifts into the left-hand channel and holds off challenges from Elneny and Ozil, before winning his side a corner from nothing. Paterson gets his head to the set-piece first but can only direct it into an opposition player.
Cardiff have had the better of things over the past few minutes. Reid makes a positive run in behind but Niasse does not spot it and gives the ball away. It has started to rain quite heavily in North London.
Cardiff, and Paterson in particular, are winning plenty of aerial duals. Torreira tries to burst clear down the left but his path is blocked by Peltier, who just stood in the midfielder's way. Torreira will swing the free kick in from 20 yards.
Torreira went for power, sending an angled shot-cross flying wide of the target. It was one of those where any sort of touch would have taken it past Etheridge.
Mustafi gets across brilliantly to cut out the ball before Niasse and square it to one of his teammates. That was a good opportunity for the Bluebirds - the Everton loanee had to play the pass a lot quicker; instead he gave Mustafi a chance to get back.
CHANCE! A big, big chance for Cardiff - who have been the better side so far - goes begging. Reid simply bundled his way through the Arsenal backline, profiting from a fortunate bounce but failing to keep his shot on target. The ball flashed inches wide of Leno's post.
CHANCE! Groans galore around the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal are fortunate to still be on level terms. Paterson swings a delightful ball in from the right and Reid guides it over the crossbar from in front of goal. Reid could have had two goals already!
PENALTY APPEAL! Arsenal are not looking comfortable at all. Cardiff have had the better of things but have been unable to take their chances, which has been the story of their season. Niasse has a penalty shout rejected after Kolasinac shoved into him in the box - and Monreal may also have caught him with his boot.
PENALTY APPEAL! Guendouzi plays a great little pass into the feet of Lacazette. The Frenchman tries to get a shot away but Manga kicks his leg - another penalty shout that may have been given on another day. It is all happening at the Emirates Stadium!
Replays show that Monreal definitely caught the boot of Niasse in the box - that should have been a penalty to Cardiff. Manga's challenge on Lacazette was equally as clumsy, so Arsenal will argue that the incidents cancelled themselves out.
Niasse is working the channels well, winning another corner for his side - this time through Mustafi. Arsenal have had 73% of the ball but it is Cardiff who are looking the more dangerous in the final third of the field.
Paterson again gets to the corner first - as he so often does - but he can only head straight at an Arsenal player. Paterson wins the next aerial challenge but the ball does not quite fall for Niasse to strike goalwards.
Arsenal have taken complete control of possession over the last couple of minutes, but they are getting nowhere fast. Cardiff are playing with five across the back and cutting off the wide areas, causing some real frustration among the home fans.
YELLOW CARD! Reid gets to the ball ahead of Monreal and is clipped right on the edge of the box. The former Bristol City attacker is looking very sharp - it is just a shame about his finishing. Monreal is shown a yellow card for the foul.
It is a pretty disappointing free kick in the end, as Bennett clips the top of the wall and the ball goes behind for a corner. The rain in North London has now turned to snow - horrible playing conditions, it must be said!
With 10 minutes to go until half time, Warnock's biggest disappointment will be that his side have failed to open the scoring. Arsenal have created next to nothing; their only real opportunity falling to Lacazette a minute or so into the game.
Torreira tries to barge through Cardiff's defence but does not get very far - he is halted on the edge of the box. Arsenal are growing more and more frustrated as this first half goes on. A lot more is required from the Gunners if they are to win this match.
YELLOW CARD! Paterson tries to get to the ball before Lichsteiner but only succeeds in catching the Arsenal defender pretty late, earning himself a yellow card.
Paterson is picked out in all sorts of space out on the right. The makeshift attacker opts to play it back inside to Arter, who panics a little when he can feel an opponent breathing down his neck and shoots horribly wide from 35 yards.
Niasse is an expert at drifting into the channels and holding the ball up for his side. The Everton loanee flicks it inside to Ralls, who in turn is clipped by Lichsteiner. Bennett's subsequent free kick has plenty of whip on it and Guendouzi helps it behind.
It is incredible to think that Arsenal sit 13 places above their opponents in the Premier League. Bennett picks out Paterson with a nice little cross, and the Scotsman's first-time cross hits the chest of Kolasinac. Expect Emery to tinker his formation at the break.
Peltier drifts past Ozil as though the German wasn't there. The full-back has time and space to pick out a teammate but fails to do so, only winning his side a corner. The ball is half-cleared to Arter, who cannot convert through a sea of bodies.
Unbelievable chance for Cardiff - how on earth have they failed to score in this first half?! Manga has another nibble at Lacazette in the box but play continues and Niasse creates some space for himself. The shot is blocked into the path of Ralls, whose cross goes through the box without a touch from a teammate.
HALF TIME: ARSENAL 0-0 CARDIFF CITY
Guendouzi is shown a yellow card by referee Mike Dean as the players make their way towards the tunnel, seemingly for dissent after that Lacazette penalty appeal was turned down. Arsenal need to seriously improve in the second half as relegation-threatened Cardiff have been the better side overall in the opening 45 minutes.
Cardiff have failed to beat Arsenal in their last 15 attempts and the early signs did not look too promising for the visitors, as Neil Etheridge could only tip a cross into the path of Alexandre Lacazette, who should have done better than blast into the body of Bruno Manga on the line. Arsenal failed to create another chance of note in the rest of the first half, though, with Cardiff looking the more threatening side.
Bobby Reid wasted two good chances in quick succession, shooting wide from 15 yards after bundling his way into the box before then guiding Callum Paterson's cross over the bar when left unmarked. Both sides were denied a penalty in the space of a few minutes, with Oumar Niasse being taken out by a mixture of Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac, while Alexandre Lacazette felt he was clipped by Manga - an incident that would repeat itself later in the half.
Arsenal struggled to get in behind Cardiff's compact defence and the Bluebirds enjoyed plenty of promising moments, but the away side could not make the most of their opportunities in a goalless first half. Emery will surely turn to his bench for the start of the second half - not for the first time this season - or else his side will fall off the pace in the race for a top-four finish.
BENCH WATCH!
ARSENAL SUBS: Cech, Jenkinson, Mavropanos, Xhaka, Ramsey, Nketiah, Iwobi
CARDIFF CITY SUBS: Smithies, Cunningham, Mendez-Laing, Healey, Harris, Hoilett, Zohore
KICKOFF: Emery makes a change before the second half as Iwobi comes on for Elneny - the 20th time he has brought a player on before the second half this season. One less defensive midfielder for the home side, replaced by an attack-minded player. Arsenal get us back underway in North London!
A good cross into the middle from Lacazette has a little too much on it for Aubameyang and Paterson eventually deals with the danger. No-nonsense defending from the Scot, who barged over Guendouzi - legally, it should be said.
Paterson drifts in from the right and there is plenty of space for him to get a shot away - Cardiff's ninth of the evening - but he drags it pretty horribly wide with his left boot. The Bluebirds have yet to hit the target tonight.
Cardiff hit Arsenal on the counter. Guendouzi keeps Niasse close to the wing but the loanee is still able to pick out Ralls, who in turn lays off the ball for Gunnarsson to shoot a good few yards wide of target from range.
Mustafi lands awkwardly on his foot after jumping for an aerial cross. The Arsenal physios are on the field and Emery may well be forced into another change here. Arsenal really are in the midst of a defensive injury crisis!
Mustafi has returned to the field but he is not moving freely. Mavropanos, who has himself spent plenty of time on the sidelines, has been sent to warm-up. Cardiff are more than holding their own here, with nearly an hour played.
Paterson again drifts in on his left boot; Paterson again miscues his shot horribly wide of the target. Cardiff have yet to hit the target tonight, despite creating some brilliant openings. Warnock may be tempted to make a first change.
ARSENAL SUB! Reid is a little too rough on Lacazette and concedes a free kick in a good crossing position. Before the set-piece is taken, Jenkinson is brought on for Lichsteiner - his first Premier League outing of the season.
Ozil is being given so little room to operate in by Cardiff, despite dropping deep to collect possession. The visitors have not done a lot in an attacking sense over the last five minutes, but they are enjoying a spell on the ball now.
BLOCK! The ball falls perfectly for Niasse to strike six yards from goal, but Mustafi put his body on the line to block the goalbound shot. Arsenal then look to counter but are prevented from doing so by Arter, who is cautioned for his nasty challenge on Guendouzi.
PENALTY APPEAL! For the third time today Manga lives life on the edge. On this occasion Mike Dean has no choice but to point to the spot as the centre-back clearly took out Kolasinac. A big chance for Arsenal to open the scoring now...
GOAL! Aubameyang waits for Etheridge to make his move and then rolls the ball pretty much right down the middle. Arsenal, perhaps undeservedly, take the lead at the Emirates Stadium. Confirmation that it was a stonewall penalty for Manga's challenge on Kolasinac.
SAVE! Etheridge gets his strong hand to Iwobi's poked effort. The half-time substitute, who played a key part in the build-up to the penalty, charged through Cardiff's backline and will probably feel that he should have scored, even if the angle was against him.
CARDIFF CITY SUB! A different sort of threat for Arsenal to deal with now as Mendez-Laing, who has been a regular starter in recent weeks, comes on for Reid in attack. Cardiff have to go for it now in the next 19 minutes.
Cardiff have looked far less threatening since falling a goal down. The bottom line, though, is that there is still only one goal in it with a little under a quarter of the game to play. An upset could still be on the cards!
CARDIFF CITY SUB! A second change for Cardiff as fit-again striker Zohore comes on for Niasse up top. Prior to that, Lacazette curled a shot well wide of the target from outside the box. Arsenal are looking comfortable at the moment.
Paterson is caught by the high boot of Ozil inside the box but the referee was right to wave away this latest penalty appeal. Arsenal look as though they are about to make a third and final change, with Ramsey being readied to come on.
ARSENAL SUB! Aaron Ramsey, who made 16 league appearances for Cardiff in the 2007-08 campaign before joining Arsenal, is on for the final stages of the match. The Welshman is cheered by every section of the ground, as he takes over from Ozil.
Arsenal, while not at their best, have improved enough in the second half to seemingly get the job done. Torreira is persuaded to shoot from 20 yards and does exactly that, failing to find the target with his drive.
CARDIFF CITY SUB! Harris is brought off the bench for Cardiff in place of Arter to provide some pace in the wide areas. Lacazette was booked by the referee before the game's final change for attempting to con the referee by diving.
SAVE! Cardiff finally get a shot on target, offering some hope that they could yet snatch a point. Substitute Zohore's shot is spinning towards the corner but Leno makes a pretty straightforward save in the end.
GOAL! ARSENAL 2-0 CARDIFF CITY (ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE)
That should do it! Lacazette gets away from Bamba, drives into the box and fires the ball through Etheridge. The Gunners are on course for back-to-back Premier League wins that will take them level on points with Chelsea.
CLOSE! Lacazette manages to get away from his man and chips the ball in the direction of Ramsey, who cannot quite guide his header on target at full stretch. Arsenal have looked comfortable since edging in front and they should cruise over the line at this rate.
YELLOW CARD! Guendouzi has been in the wars tonight. The midfielder is caught by Ralls, who is shown a yellow card by referee Mike Dean. Cardiff have one minute of normal time, plus four or five added-on minutes, to find a way through.
Five minutes have been added on here, so it is not quite over just yet. Cardiff have offered very little for a good half an hour now, though, and Arsenal do not look under any real threat. Ralls gets a shot in that is blocked by Torreira.
GOAL! ARSENAL 2-1 CARDIFF CITY (NATHANIEL MENDEZ-LAING)
Nobody closes down Mendez-Laing and the substitute steers the ball out of Leno's reach from 12 yards. A brilliant finish from the winger and Cardiff now have a minute or two to snatch what would be a shock point. I wonder!
FULL TIME: ARSENAL 2-1 CARDIFF CITY
Arsenal see through the remaining couple of minutes to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League. The Gunners took the lead through Aubameyang's 66th-minute penalty after the visitors, still mourning the suspected death of record signing Sala, spurned a number of opportunities. Lacazette added a second late on and, while Mendez-Laing did manage to pull one back in added time, the hosts held on to move level on points with the top four.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from the Emirates Stadium. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, and be sure to join us again tomorrow night as we bring you updates from the games involving Chelsea and Liverpool. See you then!
