Cardiff vs Arsenal Preview | Team News | Expected Line-Ups | Predicted Score

Arsenal will look to build on their win over West Ham when they take on Cardiff at the Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday afternoon. 

It was a tough start to life in England for Unai Emery as he slumped against Manchester City and Chelsea during our opening two matches but the Spanish coach secured his first three points of the campaign with a 3-1 comeback win over the Hammers last weekend.

There is plenty of work left to do but the signs are positive that Emery is starting to implement his ideas and the Arsenal boss will be keen to head in to the international break with another three points under his belt on Sunday.

However, Cardiff are also desperate for a win as Neil Warnock’s side have picked up just two points from their three matches so far having drawn 0-0 with Newcastle and Huddersfield after losing to Bournemouth on the opening weekend.

Team news

Arsenal welcome Mesut Ozil back in to the squad after he missed the win over West Ham through illness but he trained all last week and should return to the starting eleven tomorrow.

Laurent Koscielny is back in light training but he’s still a long way from full fitness following Achilles surgery so he remains on the sidelines with Sead Kolasinac, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Carl Jenkinson.

Lucas Torreira is pushing to make his full debut while Alexandre Lacazette will be hoping to start after making a positive impact off the bench in recent games.

Cardiff will be without Nathaniel Mendez-Laing after he was ruled out for three months with a knee injury while Aron Gunnarsson is also still nursing a knee problem that will keep him out until after the international break.

Junior Hoilett faces a late fitness test but is hoping to return following two weeks out with a groin injury.

Likely Line-Ups

Predicted Score

Cardiff 1-2 Arsenal: We have an excellent recent record against Cardiff having not lost in our last 13 meetings and traditionally we do well against newly-promoted sides. The Bluebirds are yet to score a goal since being promoted to the top flight but no doubt Arsenal’s weak defence will gift them something tomorrow. However, I think we’ll have too much in attack and am backing the boys to secure a 2-1 win.