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Arsenal team news: Predicted Arsenal line up vs Cardiff – Lacazette to start, Ozil out
ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE is pushing for a place in Arsenal's starting XI when the Gunners face Cardiff City on Sunday (1.30pm).
Arsenal: Lacazette must play through the middle says Mariner
Alexandre Lacazette could be set for his first Premier League start of the season when Arsenal take on Cardiff this weekend.
The French striker has been limited to substitute appearances so far this campaign with manager Unai Emery opting for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up front.
However, a positive display by Lacazette off the bench against West Ham has led to calls for the 27-year-old to be given a chance alongside Aubameyang in attack.
The former Lyon man played a key role in forcing Hammers defender Issa Diop to turn into his own net last weekend, helping the Gunners on their way to a 3-1 victory and their first points of the season.
Arsenal endured a tough start to life under Emery with back-to-back defeats against Manchester City and Chelsea.
Victory over West Ham will have relieved some of the pressure on the Gunners boss, and fans will now be expecting another positive result against newly-promoted Cardiff.
Emery has been reluctant to start both Aubameyang and Lacazette due to concern over the balance of his side, but a trip to Wales offers a chance to experiment.
Aubameyang is likely to shift out to the left wing in order to accommodate Lacazette, with Aaron Ramsey potentially preferred to Mesut Ozil in a No 10 role.
The German ace missed the win over West Ham due to illness and may be forced to watch on from the bench, while two of Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi will anchor the midfield.
Sead Kolasinac is a long-term absentee as the Bosnian struggles with a knee injury while Ainsley Maitland-Niles remains sidelined with a fracture to his left fibula.
Laurent Koscielny and Carl Jenkinson are also unavailable but the Gunners are expected to field the same back four which has started the previous two fixtures.
Elsewhere, Petr Cech appears to be Emery’s current first-choice goalkeeper with summer signing Bernd Leno yet to make a competitive appearance.