Iwobi Misses 5-goal Thriller @ Cardiff Stadium

Nigeria’s finest and Arsenal attacker, Alex Iwobi on Sunday missed action with the Gunners as he was left on the bench in the five-goal thriller at Cardiff City Stadium.

Though in Iwobi’s absence, Alexandre Lacazette scored the winner, to help Arsenal snatch back-to-back wins in the English Premier League with a 3-2 away victory in Cardiff.

It was not easy going, as Cardiff twice came from behind to level the scores, but Lacazette’s 81st-minute strike proved enough for the Gunner’s all three points from Wales.

Cardiff’s high press made it an uncomfortable start for Petr Cech between the Arsenal sticks, with the experienced goalkeeper almost caught out on a couple of occasions inside his own box.

Cardiff had a golden chance to take the lead in the eighth minute when Cech presented Harry Arter with the ball in a shooting position, but the midfielder’s strike was too high.

Arsenal had an opportunity of their own moments later when Aaron Ramsey found space inside the Cardiff box, but the Welshman’s low effort was saved by the diving Neil Etheridge.

Etheridge then kept out a low Hector Bellerin strike, but Arsenal took the lead from the resulting corner, with Shkodran Mustafi’s bullet header flying into the back of the Cardiff net.

Nacho Monreal had the chance to double Arsenal’s lead in the 15th minute following a mistake from Bruno Ecuele Manga, but Etheridge was on hand to make another smart save.

Cardiff had two big chances of their own in the 19th minute, but Danny Ward just failed to meet a low cross from Bobby Reid, before Junior Hoilett fired over at the far post.

Granit Xhaka sent a long-range effort wide of the Cardiff post as the match approached the 30-minute mark, before Reid saw his over-head kick fly over the crossbar down the other end of the field.