Arsenal edged past a gritty Cardiff to record a win under torrential rain as football mourned the loss of Emiliano Sala.
On a tragic night that saw Cardiff players somehow summon the mental strength to play after the devastating events of last week, the Welsh side didn’t quite have enough quality to translate their spirited display into points.
Arsenal were forced into a makeshift back four featuring Monreal at centre-back and Lichsteiner at right-back as injuries continue to take their toll on Emery’s first season. Mesut Ozil started as captain in his first start since Boxing Day at the top of a diamond midfield behind front two Lacazette and Aubameyang.
Cardiff started with Bobby Reid and Calum Paterson either side of new signing Niasse. In what should have been Sala’s debut Cardiff started brightly, and although Arsenal were smart on the ball, Cardiff never looked phased and were good value for the draw at half time in which the Gunners failed to have a shot on target.
Arsenal finally broke the deadlock as Kolasinac was fouled in the 66th minute allowing Aubameyang to score a penalty which even Neil Etheridge couldn’t save. Arsenal wrapped up the points when Aubameyang fed Lacazette who lashed home with seven minutes remaining. A late curling effort in stoppage time by Mendez-Laing was too little too late as Cardiff were unfortunate to come up empty-handed in difficult circumstances.
Tragedy brings the best out in football again
Amongst the ever-increasing spiteful, petty, toxic masculinity prevalent in football, events of the last few days have shown football does have some heart.
As with their classy behaviour after Hillsborough and Istanbul to Liverpool and Leeds United, Arsenal were exemplary with a perfectly observed minutes silence and a lovely touch in the programme listing Sala in the team sheet with a yellow flower by his name.
Neil Warnock spoke touchingly of meeting Sala and joking about the forwards clothing and the impact on Warnock and his players has clearly been huge. Warnock has spoken of retirement and of some players needing help dealing with the trauma, and it can only be hoped Cardiff can stay in the Premier League to provide the smallest crumb of comfort for a club clearly hit hard by a true footballing tragedy.
Ozil the captain?
Mesut Ozil has seemingly been frozen out in recent weeks but like Aaron Ramsey a few games ago was suddenly deemed captaincy material. The German failed to justify the selection. Ozil had some good numbers in terms of passes and final third touches, especially in the first half but as often with Ozil he looked off the pace and was replaced by Ramsey having not created a chance.
Whilst it is not Emery’s fault he has been left with this issue to deal with, the new manager needs to either commit to the German or implore his board to bite the bullet and write off last year’s foolish re-investment and allow both Arsenal and Ozil to move on.
Carl Jenkinson super sub?
The Arsenal full-back was brought on for Lichsteiner in the second half surprising many who assumed he had left the club years ago.
Jenkinson is a more than capable player but his appearance was a further reminder of the sprawling mess of a squad Gazidis and Wenger left Emery.
Rumours that a loan deal for midfielder Dennis Suarez is in the pipeline suggests Emery may slowly be able to mould a squad in his image this year.
Another example of the league’s best front two
Arsenal have looked at their best all season when both Aubameyang and Lacazette are playing in tandem.
Both players scored again to take their combined total to 26 league goals and with both having the ability to either drop wide or into a deeper role as well as stretching a defence, there’s little doubt Aubameyang and Lacazette are the league’s premier front two.
Cardiff show signs of staying in the league
Given today’s display and the circumstances around it, it seems trite to talk about Cardiff staying in the league.
However, Warnock was correct in his assessment that with better finishing they could have had four. Both Reid and Paterson could have scored and with Niasse an experienced foil at this level there are signs
Cardiff could trouble lesser sides than Arsenal in the remainder of the season to make up the three-point gap to stay in the league and provide a happy ending to a truly tragic season.
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