ARSENAL VS CARDIFF

ARSENAL VS CARDIFF

PREVIEW 

Cardiff were beaten 3-0 in a relegation battle at Newcastle, and they’ve had a 10-day gap between that clash and their meeting with the Arsenal. They will return to action for the first time since Sala’s tragic disappearance when they visit the Emirates on Tuesday night in which they are set to honour the forward ahead of the game.

Arsenal managed a 2-0 victory over Chelsea the week before  being eliminated from the FA Cup on Friday night after a 3-1 defeat at home to Manchester United. That win over the Blues did leave them just three points shy of the top four, so Unai Emery’s men will be continuing their push for the Champions League spots in Tuesday’s clash. With a five-game winning run at home in the league, Arsenal should get back into form in this game.

STASTISTICS 

·         Cardiff have also lost to all of the current top seven. Their defeats to the top four sides have come by an aggregate score of 17-2.

·         Arsenal duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette have each scored four Premier League goals against promoted sides this season – no player has scored more so far this term.

·         In the Premier League, Arsenal has won 14 out of their last 17 home matches meanwhile Cardiff have lost eight of their 11 matches on the road this term, picking up only five points in 11 matches.

  • In the Premier League, Arsenal has won with at least a 2 goal margin in their last 3 home matches, while Cardiff have failed to score in their last 3 matches.
  • Arsenal has scored at least 2 goals in their last 4 matches against Cardiff in all competitions.
  • Arsenal has won their last five home league matches and have won the last five meetings between the two sides.

TEAM NEWS

Arsenal

  • Sokratis and Laurent Koscielny have picked up serious injuries against Manchester United on Friday night. With Rob Holding out for the season, Arsenal is short of options at centre-back.
  • Nacho Monreal may be required to adapt at centre-back unless Emery is prepared to start Konstantinos Mavropanos on Tuesday night. The 21-year-old is yet to make a single appearance this season and has only just recovered from injury.
  • Mesut Ozil has not started any of Arsenal’s last seven matches in all competitions and remains out of favour under Unai Emery. Even though Aaron Ramsey is leaving in the summer, the Welshman is way ahead of Ozil in the pecking order.
  • Henrikh Mkhitaryan returned to training ahead of Friday’s FA Cup action but was not deemed fit enough to feature against his former club. He could make the bench on Tuesday.
  • arsenal vs cardiff

Cardiff

  • Sean Morrison looks set to miss out for Neil Warnock’s side once again, while Harry Arter, Jazz Richards, Kenneth Zohore and Kadeem Harris remain doubts for the away side.
  • Cardiff played Oumar Niasse and Callum Paterson up front in a 4-4-2 formation last time out and it ended up losing 3-0 to Newcastle. He may tinker with his set-up on Tuesday if he wants to accommodate both against Arsenal.

 

PREDICTION

 

  • Arsenal having won by a two-goal margin or greater in eight of their nine home wins, While Cardiff have scored just six times on the road this term, conceding a huge 21 times in 11 matches, we think there’s great value in backing the Gunners to easily take all the 3 points.

 

Prediction: Arsenal 3 Cardiff 1