Arsenal are trying to seal deals for Denis Suarez and Ivan Perisic as the January transfer window deadline looms, and were further boosted by a 2-1 win over Cardiff City tonight.
Cardiff's first fixture since the disappearance of the aeroplane carrying striker Emiliano Sala finished in a loss at Arsenal but the scoreline scarcely mattered.
The missing Sala and pilot David Ibbotson were remembered throughout a sombre evening in north London, played out in torrential rain.
Relegation-threatened Cardiff threatened an upset by seizing on the Gunners' defensive uncertainty, but Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's stoppage-time strike came too late.
Unai Emery's side prevailed through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's second-half penalty and Alexandre Lacazette's solo strike to move level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea.
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Arsenal team news and line-up
Arsenal: Leno, Lichtsteiner, Mustafi, Monreal, Kolasinac, Torreira, Elneny, Guendouzi, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Subs: Cech, Ramsey, Iwobi, Jenkinson, Mavropanos, Xhaka, Nketiah
