Arsenal boss Unai Emery praises fit-again Mesut Ozil after Cardiff win

Alexandre Lacazette struck late as Arsenal won 3-2 at Cardiff City on Sunday.

Ozil missed Arsenal's first win under Emery against West Ham last weekend amid claims the German midfielder had been involved in a training ground bust-up with his manager.

Mesut Özil is back in contention for a place in the Arsenal starting lineup at Cardiff but the challenge of adapting to the needs of his new manager remains.

More defensive weakness on 70 minutes allowed Ward to head home unmarked off the base of the woodwork after Aubameyang had restored Arsenal's lead six minutes earlier, bending a superb shot past Etheridge after being teed up well by Lacazette and Mesut Ozil. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang linked up well with the rest of the front line and grabbed his first goal of the season.

Emery said on Friday he plans to continue switching Ozil between playing in his favoured role as a central No. 10 and as a right-winger depending on the formation he uses.

6 - Bringing in Lacazette paid off but Emery also used Ozil on the right of the attack, a knock-on effect being Hector Bellerin was over-exposed.

Arsenal travel to Cardiff as very hot favourites to beat the newly-promoted side, but I don't think we can brush the Bluebirds off quite as easily as that.

Joe Bennett's cross somehow wormed its way to Camarasa at the back post, who leathered the ball past Petr Cech to make it 1-1. He almost got himself in trouble in the opening minute when he struggled to control a back pass, then fed the ball straight to Harry Arter in the seventh minute to set up a gold chance for the hosts. They know that they will be in selection in the next game, even if they did not play well this time.

The Gunners controlled the ball with absolute authority for most of the first half and chances came easily.

Xhaka has been a regular fixture in the Arsenal team but most Gunners fans would admit that he is yet to step his game up and produce consistent displays this term. The fact that they netted twice could be seen as a comfort, but it's also worrying that they couldn't turn that into at least a draw.