From battling Cardiff to impressive Lacazette: Five things we learnt from Cardiff City’s 3-2 defeat against Arsenal

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This afternoon’s Premier League lunchtime kickoff saw newly promoted Cardiff City host an Arsenal side still adapting to life under new manager Unai Emery. 

A juxtaposition of managerial styles clashing together at the Cardiff City Stadium – an ever-feisty Neil Warnock versus a suave Emery – promised an interesting match between the two Premier League sides.

The first-half naturally saw Arsenal take control of the possession, with the hosts seeking to counter at any given opportunity. However, both sides seemed determined to gift chances to the other with consistent mistakes dominating the opening 10 minutes.

In the 11th minute, Arsenal took the lead. A Granit Xhaka corner was whipped in and found the head of Shkodran Mustafi who bulleted a header past Neil Etheridge to put the Gunners 1-0 up. Fun fact; Arsenal’s previous 16 goals all came from open play.

Just before half-time, Cardiff scored the goal that they have been begging for, to bring the scores level. A dangerous cross from Joe Bennett found it’s way to Víctor Camarasa who fired past Cech, scoring his first goal for the club, and Cardiff’s first of this Premier League campaign.

If they were level at the start of the second half, they weren’t after 62 minutes following a fantastic goal scored by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, putting Emery’s side in front once more. However, once again, Cardiff fought back and got their second of the afternoon thanks to a great header from Danny Ward.

Despite Cardiff’s impressive display, Arsenal went ahead for the third time. Alexandre Lacazette took the ball in the box and powered Arsenal in front after 82 minutes. A really impressive finish from the Frenchman.

It was a case of third time lucky for Arsenal as Cardiff had no response to Lacazette’s finish, with the match finishing 3-2 to the Gunners.

Emery confirmed his first away win since the start of his Arsenal tenure and just Arsenal’s second away win of 2018. Meanwhile, Cardiff are still waiting for that first Premier League win of this campaign.

Here are five things we learnt from Arsenal’s 3-2 victory against Cardiff City.

Laca & Auba finally stop lacking

Opting to start the two strikers alongside each other, Aubameyang and Lacazette were given the opportunity to lead the line from the start.

Both the Gabonese international and Frenchman were still seeking their first goals of the season. Lacazette has struggled for consistency since his move to the club while Aumbameyang had an impressive start to life in England last season following his blockbuster move from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

Lacazette hit the post after 33 minutes following a neat turn just outside the Cardiff box, in a half dominated by mistakes.

However, there was no mistake in the second half after Lacazette laid off Aubameyang, who took a touch and curled the ball into the bottom right corner of the Cardiff goal to put the Gunners back in front. It was Aubameyang’s 150th goal within the top five leagues in European football and it was a fantastic strike worthy of that honour.

If Aubameyang’s strike was impressive, Lacazette’s 82nd-minute goal was more powerful. Controlling the ball in the Cardiff box, Lacazette created enough space to fiercely bury his strike beyond the Cardiff keeper to get his first goal of the 2018/19 Premier League campaign.

Perhaps they should start together more often?

Bluebirds shot down by Gunners, again

Going into this match, the Bluebirds hadn’t beaten Arsenal in the last 13 matches between the two sides, with their last victory against the north London side coming way back in 1961.

Prior to this match, Cardiff had kept two consecutive clean sheets against both Newcastle United and Huddersfield Town, but that record was quickly terminated.

They didn’t do themselves any favours after conceding with just 11 minutes on the clock, allowing Mustafi to run free and give the London club the advantage.

Despite providing a strong performance – and two goals to please the home support – Warnock’s side couldn’t get anything from the game.

Warnock will obviously not be happy with his side conceding three goals but he will be impressed by his side’s effort to close down the Arsenal defence, for their battling efforts in midfield and for scoring twice against a talented Arsenal side.

Goalkeeper must do Petr

Cech almost made a mistake within the first 30 seconds of the match, hesitating on the ball on his goal line before just evading capture and embarrassment from the Cardiff attack.

Then just six minutes later, Cech – again – almost gifted Cardiff their first goal of the season, when his forced misplaced pass fell straight to Harry Arter who subsequently fired the ball way over the crossbar. Cech could, and should, have been punished.

There have been calls from some sections of the Arsenal support that their new signing Bernd Leno should be given the opportunity to start in goal for the Gunners.

Both Arsenal and Emery have been known to deploy a patient possession-at-all-costs style of football, which has undoubtedly drawn struggles from the experienced former Premier League winner Cech.

There are no question marks on his shot-stopping ability but with Emery persisting with passing out from the back, surely it is time to offer Leno a chance to impress?

Goaless streak ends for Warnock’s men

Opting to start with Danny Ward up top today alongside Bobby Reid and Junior Hoilett, Warnock was hoping that the 26-year-old could get on the scoresheet and get the Welsh club their first goal in this new Premier League campaign.

They could have scored with mere minutes on the clock but after a Cech mistake, Harry Arter blazed high and wide, with Arsenal scoring soon after.

The hosts certainly had their chances in the first half, with Ward, Reid and Hoilett coming close for Warnock’s tenacious side. However, it was Camarasa who put smiles on Cardiff supporters faces on the stroke of half-time with his smashing finish.

Starting with Ward seemed to be a masterstroke from Warnock, with the slight striker scoring a massive header – off the left post and past Cech – to bring Cardiff level once again.

Warnock will be happy with the performance from his attackers and will seek to utilise them more as the season progresses.

The Ozil effect is missing

The former Germany international made his return to the starting line-up this afternoon following his absence from Arsenal’s 3-1 home victory against Premier League strugglers West Ham United.

Questions have been raised once again about the work-rate of Ozil’s play, with Emery’s style of play needing his attacking players to provide more defensive cover when the opposition come at them.

This afternoon, Ozil’s influence was barely recognisable, with the German struggling to create any real opportunities for both himself and his teammates.

He wasn’t the only Arsenal man to struggle this afternoon – special mention for Xhaka – but so much more is expected from the talented playmaker but he doesn’t seem to be in the right headspace to provide the performances at present.

Substituted for Danny Welbeck with minutes to spare, some may wonder if Ozil deserves a starting place in Emery’s new system.

The post From battling Cardiff to impressive Lacazette: Five things we learnt from Cardiff City’s 3-2 defeat against Arsenal appeared first on Squawka News.



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