#CARARS

Arsenal away at newly promoted Cardiff City. Not a game where the "old" Arsenal would have had a care in the world brushing aside the team from the Welsh capital, but nowadays with a defence that leaks like a rusty kettle, there is always that fear that a few extra cockups will end in disaster.

Forgetting that my brother was away in Canada flying in a WW2 Avro Lancaster* I sent out an SMS to say I was on "lockdown".  A phrase we use to say "do not send game updates"!  Claire and I were out walking the dog and so I would miss the 1.30pm kick off.

I avoided looking at my phone, as kindly old Google sends me score updates! Okay when the game isn't on TV!

Once back in I started watching the recorded version and skimmed through the pundits and the preamble.  I always think it is  pointless interviewing managers before a game!

After 11 minutes the ethnic Albanians of Xhaka and Mustafi combined at a corner to put Arsenal 1-0 up.  Arsenal were well on top until the dying minutes of the first half and following some hesitation in defence,  Cardiff equalised.

The second half followed the same pattern. At one point the stats showed 90% possession over a ten minute period.  Then Aubameyang scored with a twenty yard shot into the bottom corner.  At last playing two proper strikers looked to be paying off.

And then Cardiff came back.  Harry Arter dived.  There is no other excuse for a player going face down into the turf when the nearest Arsenal player was over two feet away from touching him.  From the resultant free kick and other defence lapse allowed them to score. 2-2.  Cue much swearing and anger!!!

From then on it was one way traffic,  The Gunners piling on pressure, bringing on Welbeck as a third striker. The pressure finally paid off with Lacazette being put through and his thunderbolt strike beat the keeper at his near post. 2-3 and Arsenal ahead.

A worthy victory but the defensive frailties need addressing quickly. There's a break now for international games and then the Arsenal are back on 15th September away at Newcastle United.  Another tricky one away.

I will definitely keep my phone on for that as I will be in Belgium

* Historical Aside: My Gran, Hilda Shaw Pattinson, worked at the A V Roe factory in Chadderton  (Lancashire) during WW2 until she retired in the late 1960's. The factory is now a museum.