Mesut Ozil returned to the Arsenal lineup, in place of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Petr Cech continued in goal, although his limitations on the ball were exposed early on in the game. The Czech stopper attempted to pass out of the box only to find Harry Arter, who wasted the opportunity by firing over the bar.

Minutes later, he was made to pay. A simple corner saw Mustafi meet the ball at the near post and head past Neil Etheridge in goal. It looked to be a sign of things to come.

The first half was one way traffic, with Cardiff barely able to get the ball off of Unai Emery’s team, but the Arsenal defence contrived to give them a way back into the game. On the stroke of half time, Camarasa brought the ball down in the box after turning a defender and rifled a high finish into the roof of the net. It had come from nowhere, but Cardiff had their goal.

Arsenal were visibly stunned and coming out for the second half they did not look the same team - aside from Cech once again passing directly to a Cardiff player on the edge of the box. However, with just over an hour gone, the link up between Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Lacazette finally paid dividends.

The Frenchman backheeled a pass to the former Dortmund man on the edge of the box and Aubameyang let fly. He curled an effort past Etheridge and Arsenal had their lead again.

As good as they were going forward, Arsenal’s defensive frailties have been an issue in every game they have played this season, and Cardiff exposed them once more. A simple free kick to the back post eventually saw Danny Ward head in off the post. Cardiff were level with 20 minutes to go.

They were behind again with nine to go. Lacazette, who could have been offside, picked up the ball on the right hand side of the box and hit a stunning finish in at the near post. Etheridge will be annoyed not to have got a hand to it, but the power and placement on the shot were impressive.

This time, Arsenal managed to hold onto their lead, although Cardiff did have chances, and Unai Emery has his second league win in England. He will be a happy man over the International Break.

2 September 2018

D. Ward

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