Premier League
Arsenal Finish the Job Against Cardiff
Arsenal got the job done and took all three points from Cardiff City in an unconvincing performance. A second half penalty from Aubameyang and a solo effort from Lacazette see Arsenal take sole possession of fifth place after Manchester United dropped points against Burnley. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing scored a consolation goal for the visitors in the third minute of stoppage time.
Job Done
Although Arsenal walk away from this match with the points, they will not be too happy with the performance. One thing that could be said about Unai Emery is that he gets the results. Traditionally, Arsene Wenger focused on the style of play to bring the results while the new boss only cares about the final outcome.
Arsenal were particularly bad in the first half. Cardiff went into the break as the better side and probably should have taken the lead. Bobby Reid had a handful of chances in the first 45 but could not put the Welsh side ahead. Arsenal struggled to string anything together. Thus forcing a change of formation at half-time as Mohamed Elneny was subbed off for Alex Iwobi.
A more traditional 4-3-3 suited Arsenal more in this one. They were very one dimensional in the first half. The majority of their game was played down the right wing in the first half as they offered nothing on the opposite flank. Iwobi being subbed on changed this dramatically. All of the sudden Iwobi was finding the overlapping run of Kolasinac who then won a penalty. This move got Arsenal on the scoresheet and propelled them forward.
Tough Times in Wales
This match marked the first time Cardiff City have taken the field since their newly signed striker, Emiliano Sala, went missing. Sala’s plane from Nantes to Cardiff went missing somewhere over the English Channel. Although he never played a game for the club, the tribute at the Emirates Stadium was fantastic. The player’s club, family, and fans alike still hold hope that the striker will be found safe and alive along with the pilot of the small plane.
At this tragic time, Cardiff also find themselves in a relegation fight which sees them currently in 18th place, three points from safety. In their next two matches they face Bournemouth and Southampton. The Saints are right above them in 17th place so this will be one of those all important six point matches.
Photo credit to Arsenal via Twitter
