By Bulldog Drummond
So what of today?
We obviously don’t have Sokratis for several games, and although Koscielny seems just to have bruised his jaw rather than had it broken, I suspect he won’t be risked even if he feels fit.
Meanwhile it may be just me but I am finding one or two of Mr Emery’s communications a little confusing of late. I don’t mean to criticise him – he’s been brilliant at embracing English, even when still coming to terms with it, but saying, “Our focus now is very clear: the Premier League. We’re also going to play the Europa League with big motivation. It’s one way to the Champions League. We need to be concentrated for the three points like we were against Chelsea,” then I’m not quite sure I have learned too much I didn’t know.
Of course we are aware that we have the third best home record in the PL this season – continuing the trend we had last season. Nine wins, two draws, one defeat at home. 26 goals for and 10 against. And we have won the last five home games in the PL.
Given that Cardiff have won one, drawn two and lost eight away (scoring six goals en route while conceding 21) we shouldn’t be too hard pushed. But… interestingly one of the few teams who have conceded more away from home than Cardiff is … Arsenal.
The last time they beat us was in February 1961, at Highbury. Tottenham won the league, we came 11th, and we lost more games than we won. Hardly bears thinking about. There were 33,754 in the crowd, and Herd got both our goals.
| Date | Game | Res |
Score | Competition |
| 11 Feb 1961 | Arsenal v Cardiff City | L | 2-3 | Division One |
| 28 Oct 1961 | Cardiff City v Arsenal | D | 1-1 | Division One |
| 17 Mar 1962 | Arsenal v Cardiff City | D | 1-1 | Division One |
| 04 Jan 1969 | Cardiff City v Arsenal | D | 0-0 | FA Cup |
| 07 Jan 1969 | Arsenal v Cardiff City | W | 2-0 | FA Cup |
| 05 Jan 1980 | Cardiff City v Arsenal | D | 0-0 | FA Cup |
| 08 Jan 1980 | Arsenal v Cardiff City | W | 2-1 | FA Cup |
| 05 Oct 1982 | Arsenal v Cardiff City | W | 2-1 | League Cup |
| 26 Oct 1982 | Cardiff City v Arsenal | W | 1-3 | League Cup |
| 07 Jan 2006 | Arsenal v Cardiff City | W | 2-1 | FA Cup |
| 25 Jan 2009 | Cardiff City v Arsenal | D | 0-0 | FA Cup |
| 16 Feb 2009 | Arsenal v Cardiff City | W | 4-0 | FA Cup |
| 30 Nov 2013 | Cardiff City v Arsenal | W | 0-3 | Premier League |
| 01 Jan 2014 | Arsenal v Cardiff City | W | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 02 Sep 2018 | Cardiff City v Arsenal | W | 2-3 | Premier League |
But since then it has all been rather jolly. Four straight wins in the last four games scoring 12 goals conceding two. One draw in the last nine games. So that all looks fairly secure – and of course we can throw in the fact that they have never beaten us in the Premier League.
However there is that defensive issue. If we actually keep them out it will be only the second time this season we have not let in a goal across consecutive league games.
And here’s another: if Ramsey really is about to go to Juventus now, then this could be his last game for us – and it will be against Cardiff, the team he started with and from whom Mr Wenger bought him as a youngster. He also went back there on loan.
Meanwhile although our defence is not looking so good, this shouldn’t worry us too much as Cardiff have failed to score in 11 of their 23 league matches, an honour they share with Huddersfield. They are also the only PL club that has never once been ahead at half time this season.
And one more… Neil Warnock has brought three top flight teams to Arsenal, and always lost. There was the October 1991 game with Notts County, the September 2006 with Sheffield United, and finally the December 2011 with QPR.
So to the team. I’m really not sure how Mr Emery is seeing this but without bringing in any youngsters to sit on the beach we have got 18 players who appear to be fit – which is the total number needed these days…. So I thought if I was the manager I might try and sneak the lot of them onto the pitch.
Leno, Cech
Jenkinson, Lichtsteiner, Mustafi, Mavropanos, Kolasinac, Monreal
Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Elneny, Torreira, Guendouzi, Ramsey
Attacking: Iwobi, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
I don’t think I’ve got a single selection right this season, and as a result I guess I may as well leave it at that. Maybe you’d like to have a go at a selection. Or perhaps come up with the name of a kiddie who might get onto the beach and pop on to surprise us, as Arsenal hit their fifth with 15 minutes still remaining.
Well, you never know.
In defence we might just see Zech Medley, he’s looked tidy and assured when I’ve seen him, can play CB or LB
The line up for today should be like this according to my own thinking, Leno between the stick Defence Jenkinson Mustafi Mavropanos Monreal Midfield Xhaka Torreira Ramsey Attacking Iwobi Lacazette Aubamayeng This is going to be perfect for today believe me
UP TO WHEN ARE WE GOING TO CONTINOU GAMBLING THE SQUADE AND THE TRANSFER IS GETTING CLOSED SO I DONT KNOW HOW WE ARE GOING TO END THIS SEASON.
I think Arsenal will end this season by firstly, get a top four place finish and secondly, win the Europa League Cup. If at the close of this season’s campaign in all competitions, Arsenal achieved these 2 successes, then, it should be acknowledged by us Gooners that Arsenal have had a good 2018-2019 season’s campaign. Although it may not be a great season’s campaign they had per say since they didn’t win the PL title but in place of that got a top four place. Still, at any rate, it can be said it’s a good season’s campaign they’ve had anyway if they achieve these 2 achievements at the end of the seasoning. And I believe Emery and Gunners know this too.
All thing being equalled at Arsenal and it is well in the Gunners’ camp this night at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal will beat Cardiff City in the PL by whatever goals margin scored in the match. It could be by a goal or by multiple goals margin that Arsenal will beat them with. At any rate, the important thing in the match that Arsenal should get is a win result for us Gooners in the match. The win result for Arsenal I believe the Gunners will not fail us Gooners to get it this night unfailingly.
My Arsenal PL match starting XI and the 7 Gunners that I have on the bench in a 3-5-2 formation starts that I like to see Emery adopt for this our Cardiff match are as stated below.
Starts:
Leno;
AMN Mustafi Monreal;
Iwobi Torreira Ozil Xhaka Kolasinac;
Lacazette Aubameyang.
Bench:
Cech Lichtsteiner Mavropanous Medley Guendouzi Elneny Willock.
I start Iwobi at RW instead of to start him at his usual LW and I believe he can play very there too as he is been playing very well at LW. I watched his incursions to the RW severally in our last Man U FA Cup match played last Friday at the Ems and he played very well there at any time he has incursed to the RW. But let him improve on his final ball passing in the opponent’s 18 yard area to be accurate in his passing making sure he correctly passed the ball to his intended mate he wanted to pass the ball to. And let him also be getting in goal scoring position in the opponent’s area to receive a pass and attempts scoring taking his chances very well and be clinical in taking them.
On touching note, Arsenal has included Sala in their match squad. Very touching and thoughtful from the club.
Reports from Sky Sports has that Suarez deal is completed pending an announcement.
From LiveScore
Leno
Lichsteiner Mustafi Monreal Kolasinac
Elneny
Torreira Ozil Guendouzi
Lacazette Aubameyang
Beach: Cech, Ramsey, Iwobi, Jenkinson, Mavropanos, Xhaka, Nketiah
COYG!
live match report is on line