Arsenal vs Cardiff
Premier League 2018-19
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2019
Kick-off: 7:45pm GMT
Unai Emery's injury-hit Arsenal welcome Cardiff City to the Emirates on Tuesday evening.
The Gunners were swept aside by Manchester United as their FA Cup campaign came to a premature end on Friday night.
Just goal difference separates the two in the league but with just three points separating them from fourth place Chelsea, the battle for Champions League spots is well and truly on.
Meanwhile, Cardiff staff and fans will wear daffodils in honour of missing striker Emiliano Sala. Cardiff chief executive Ken Choo has invited Sala's family to Tuesday's match, while both captains will lay floral tributes ahead of kick-off.
Arsenal team news and predicted line-up
Sokratis and Laurent Koscielny have joined Arsenal's injury list, leaving Emery desperately short of options at the back.
The Greece international limped off just 21 minutes into Friday’s FA Cup fourth round defeat to United after landing awkwardly following an aerial battle with Jesse Lingard.
Emery had hoped the injury was not too serious but Arsenal have now confirmed the former Borussia Dortmund defender is not expected to return to first-team training until the end of next month.
Gunners captain was taken to hospital with a suspected broken jaw but the club are yet to place a timeline on his return, with an injury update on Sunday noting the defender has “bruising and soft tissue swelling to face and jaw” and is “being reviewed on a daily basis.”
With Rob Holding sidelined for the remainder of the season, Emery is left with just two recognised centre-halves in his squad in Shkodran Mustafi and 21-year-old Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Nacho Monreal can also offer cover at the back but has been limited to just nine starting appearances in the league this season due to hamstring issues.
Hector Bellerin and Danny Welbeck are long-term absentees but Henrikh Mkhitaryan is available after returning to full training last week.
Arsenal XI: Leno; Mustafi, Lichsteiner, Koscielny, Mavropanos, Kolasinac; Torreira, Guendouzi; Iwobi. Ramsey, Aubameyang; Lacazette
Score prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Cardiff
Luckily for Arsenal, there options up front are fighting fit and against the side with the second worst defensive record in the league, you fancy Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to cause problems.
Arsenal vs Cardiff tickets
To check ticket availability click here to head to Arsenal's website.
Betting tips via Betfair | UK users only | Subject to change
Match odds
- Arsenal to win: 1/4
- Cardiff to win: 12/1
- Draw: 11/2
First goalscorer odds
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 2/1
- Alexandre Lacazette: 10/3
- Aaron Ramsey: 6/1
- Kenneth Zohore: 14/1
Click here to find the latest match odds and place a bet.
TV channel and live stream, and online coverage
The match will not be available to watch live in the UK.
But you can follow all the action with Standard Sport's LIVE blog.
Head to Head history (h2h)
There have been 45 meetings between these two sides over the years with the Gunners winning 21 of those. Cardiff have 10 wins to their name – but the last of those came in 1961.
