Cardiff vs Arsenal Predictions

Cardiff were touted as the hot favourites for relegation at the start of this new Premier League campaign, and three games into the season they have done little to dispel that notion, and continued their poor form with a 3-1 loss at home to Norwich in the League Cup on Tuesday.

The Bluebirds began their return to the top flight with a 2-0 loss away to Bournemouth, and their failure to threaten the opposition goal in that game was a sign of things to come for the fans. They have followed it up with goalless draws against both Newcastle and Huddersfield.

Admittedly, that does mean they have two points on the board. However, they have faced three bottom half sides so far and failed to score a single goal. They have a squad full of Championship level players, and added to that with yet more Championship players over the summer. Now they are finding that their game plan doesn’t cut it against even the so-called lesser Premier League sides. It could be a very long season indeed for Cardiff fans.

Arsenal’s new era under Unai Emery didn’t exactly look promising after they opened the season with defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea, but they finally got some points on the board last weekend with a 3-1 defeat of the floundering West Ham.

In fairness to The Gunners they were unlucky to lose to Chelsea, registering 2.21 xG compared to Chelsea’s 1.66 at Stamford Bridge. Those three points at the Emirates last weekend will have surely increased confidence among the players and fans alike, and they can now look forward to a much easier run of fixtures rather than back-to-back matches against top six sides.

Unfortunately for the neutrals among us, this has all the makings of a rather drab match. Cardiff have failed to score a single league goal this season, but they have only conceded two in three games as well. The hosts are expected to sit back and defend deep against the pace of Arsenal’s attack, and Neil Warnock isn’t exactly famed for the attractive brand of football his team plays.

With all three of Cardiff’s games this season seeing fewer than three goals, we think backing Under 2.5 Goals along with a 1-0 win for Arsenal looks the best bet for Sunday.