Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Arsenal team news vs Cardiff: Predicted line up – Defensive crisis, make-shift back four
ARSENAL could be forced to field an unfamiliar back four when they welcome Cardiff City to the Emirates for their Premier League clash tonight (7.45pm).
Arsenal vs Cardiff: Preview for Premier League clash
Arsenal are currently beset by selection issues ahead of their Premier League meeting with Cardiff.
Manager Unai Emery has seen his defensive options drastically limited with recent injuries to Hector Bellerin, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Laurent Koscielny.
The Spaniard has just two fit centre-backs available for the visit of the Bluebirds, with Konstantinos Mavropanos expected to partner Shkodran Mustafi.
Mavropanos has not featured at all so far this season due to injury but is now available to play and should start.
Nacho Monreal offers an alternative as an emergency centre-back but is unlikely to play from the off while Sead Kolasinac retains his spot at left-back.
Koscielny had been in fine form before his nasty jaw injury during the FA Cup clash with Manchester United.
Sokratis is also sidelined after limping off midway through the first half of the 3-1 defeat with an apparent ankle injury, joining long-term absentees Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck on the treatment table.
A ruptured cruciate ligament has ruled Bellerin out for the rest of the season, handing a chance for Ainsley Maitland-Niles to impress at right-back.
Arsenal: Fan defends Emery following FA Cup defeat
The 21-year-old is currently preferred to Stephan Lichtsteiner while Emery is expected to revert back to a diamond midfield after utilising a 4-2-3-1 formation on Friday.
Granit Xhaka should sit in front of the back four while Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi will start in midfield.
Aaron Ramsey is most likely to start in an advanced role, although Mesut Ozil is another option.
Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are both expected to start in attack, despite completing 90 minutes against the Red Devils.
Arsenal predicted line-up vs Cardiff City – Premier League
(4-1-2-1-2): Leno; Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, Mavropanos, Kolasinac; Xhaka; Guendouzi, Torreira; Ramsey; Aubameyang, Lacazette