Cardiff City vs Arsenal : Predicted line-ups and stats preview

Jack Wilshere

Cardiff City welcome Arsenal to the Welsh capital on Saturday, in a fixture that is set to pose a tougher task for the table-toppers than statistics may suggest. DespiteKim Bo-Yyung’s dramatic equaliser saving a point for Cardiff in their last outing against Manchester United, the Welsh club linger in 15th, just three points above the relegation zone of the Premier League. Conversely, Arsenal’s new-found defensive solidarity and characteristic attacking flair has made them the early pace-setters, sitting four points clear of both Liverpool and Chelsea. However, many still expect the eventual decline in the Gunners’ fortunes, with Cardiff certainly capable of causing yet another upset in Wales.

Team News

Cardiff :

Arguably the best news for Cardiff fans will be the availability of Gary Medel, who controversially avoids any further punishment for visibly slapping Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini. The combative midfielder’s presence will be essential to Cardiff’s hopes of neutralising Arsenal’s wealth of flair in the middle of the park.

Meanwhile, both Frazier Campbell and Andreas Cornelius continued their roads to recovery last weekend, with the former starting the game; either could pose varied threats to the Arsenal rear-guard, with perhaps Campbell offering a more dynamic option, playing on the shoulder of the experienced Per Mertesacker.

Arsenal:

After sitting out Arsenal’s midweek Champions League victory over Marseille through illness, Kieran Gibbs could be available for selection this weekend should Arsene Wenger see fit. Mathieu Flamini is also available once again, after missing the Gunner’s last league fixture through suspension; with a tough away task in prospect, Wenger will probably look to restore his French general to the starting eleven – sleeves, or no sleeves.

Cardiff should fear the continued rehabilitation of Theo Walcott in the Arsenal side, the English winger has made sub appearances in the last two games, and Arsenal may see this tight away fixture as the perfect platform to give Walcott a start. However, so blessed are Arsenal in the midfield department, Santi Cazorla could retake his starting position after settling for a space on the bench in the side’s midweek Champions League fixture. Its is perhaps a question of whether the Gunners will need pace or technical ability this weekend; Walcott may act better as an impact substitution than his Spanish colleague.

Predicted Line-ups

Cardiff

Arsenal

Recent Form

Cardiff’s form reads as a mixed bag; whilst Malky Mackay’s men have only lost once in their last four league matches, they have also failed to win in five of their last six. The recent last-gasp draw against Manchester United would have felt like a victory, and buoyed the Cardiff players and fans alike. However, with just 13 points from their first 12 games, Cardiff need to find a way to start winning, or risk a nervy close to the season in 2014. Goals have been hard to come by for the South-Wales outfit, scoring just four times in their last five league fixtures, emphasised by the club top-scorer being Frazier Campbell on just three goals.

Arsenal boast an impressive recent run of form, faulted only by a 0-1 loss when travelling to Old Trafford to play Manchester United. The Gunner’s have had no trouble in finding the net in recent weeks though, scoring 10 goals in their last five fixtures. Perhaps more impressively, Wenger’s side has kept three clean sheets in their last five league outings, supplemented by a further two in Europe, most notably away to Borussia Dortmund. Arsenal faced a fairly simple task in dismantling a disheartened Marseille side on Tuesday night, but should not expect a similar oppositional display when visiting the Cardiff City Stadium this weekend.

Players to watch

Cardiff - Peter Whittingham

Peter Whittingham has been one of Cardiff’s main men since his move to South Wales in 2007; the 26-year-old is a set-piece maestro, and in Steven Caulker and Ben Turner, he has plenty to aim at when standing over free-kicks and corners. Cardiff are notably dangerous from set-pieces, and have scored four league goals from corners, second only to Fulham (5). Arsenal have only conceded twice from corners this term, so Cardiff will have to live up to their set-piece billing if they’re to breach a now strong rear-guard.

Whittingham’s success rate delivering crosses/set-pieces vs Man United.

Arsenal – Jack Wilshere

The England international has recently hit a rich vein of form, scoring a career-best four goals already this term. Wilshere lead the Arsenal offensive in midweek, with a rare brace against Marseille; the midfielder has himself commented on his will to add goals to his game after watching Aaron Ramsey become Arsenal’s main man so far this season. Wilshere has responded with solid midfield performances throughout the campaign, with an 86% pass completion rate, creating 12 chances for his team-mates, including one assist.

England eagerly observes Wilshere’s development, and Cardiff must look to nullify a player who scored the deciding goal in Arsenal’s League Cup replay fixture against Welsh rivals Swansea last term.

A graphic showing Jack Wilshere’s fine display in front of goal vs. Marseille; with two shots on target actually leading to goals.

Prediction

Regardless of the obvious difference in league position, the statistics point towards a tight affair in South Wales this weekend; Arsenal are clear favourites, but will encounter a spirited Cardiff side. I would not be surprised to see Arsenal win this game narrowly, possibly by 0-1 or 0-2, as the last four Arsenal games have featured under 2.5 goals. Cardiff’s struggle in finding the net so far this season should worry Mackay when facing a side with five clean sheets from their last six games.