Emery unleashes two-gun Arsenal to thrilling effect
UNAI EMERY’S new-look Arsenal produced a thrilling victory to offer fans an exciting glimpse of the future.
Arsene Wenger’s successor went for it as he started Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette up front together for the first time in his reign.
And Emery was rewarded with a memorable late win as Aubameyang and Lacazette scored blistering goals to secure a dramatic three points.
It made for a pulsating Premier League clash at Cardiff City Stadium, where the hosts equalised twice before Lacazette crashed in a late winner, giving the Gunners their first away win of the season.
Emery’s work already suggests Arsenal are becoming much more dangerous at set-pieces. They took the lead from a corner as Granit Xhaka’s near-post ball saw Shkodran Mustafi thunder a header into the roof of the net.
But Cardiff’s industry and physicality paid off in first-half stoppage-time when they punished a loose pass from Xhaka. Arsenal failed to clear Joe Bennett’s cross, allowing Victor Camarasa to turn and blast in a high finish for the club’s first goal back in the top flight. Arsenal regained the lead in the 62nd minute as Lacazette flicked to Aubameyang, who curled in a fine shot from the edge of the area. Yet the lead lasted eight minutes as Cardiff’s well-worked freekick saw Danny Ward nod in.
But all the Bluebirds’ endeavour was undone by another moment of class from Arsenal. This time it was Lacazette on the scoresheet with a superb turn, touch and finish nine minutes from time after substitute Lucas Torreira’s defence-splitting pass. The victory appeared to embolden Emery, who vowed to keep playing out from the back despite Petr Cech’s jitters. He said: “It is very important for me to continue doing this and improving. If you play long balls every time, you lose personality.”
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock felt the loss was tough on his team but said they would continue to scare top sides ahead of games against Chelsea and Manchester City.
“I have the hardest job in the Premier League by a mile,” he said. “But the lads are giving me everything and we haven’t spent a lot of money. At my age, I don’t want to go and park the bus. I don’t think we are good enough to park the bus. We would have lost anyhow if we
did that.” CARDIFF (4-4-2): Etheridge 7; Manga 6, Morrison 7, Bamba 6, Bennett 6; Camarasa 7 (Madine 89), Ralls 6, Arter 6, Hoilett 6; Reid 6, Ward 7 (Zohore 84). Booked: Camarasa, Hoilett, Arter. Goals: Camarasa 45, Ward 70. NEXT UP: Chelsea (a), September 15 PL. ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Cech 4; Bellerin 6, Mustafi 8, Sokratis 7, Monreal 6; Guendouzi 7 (Torreira 70, 7), Xhaka 5; Ozil 7 (Welbeck 84), Ramsey 7, Aubameyang 8 (Mkhitaryan 89); Lacazette 9. Booked: Bellerin, Monreal, Guendouzi, Xhaka. Goals: Mustafi 11, Aubameyang 62, Lacazette 81. NEXT UP: Newcastle (a), September 15 PL. Referee: A Taylor (Cheshire).