Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott scored late goals to put Arsenal back on top of the Premier League as a brave Cardiff were beaten in front of expected new boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Bendtner fired in from close range after Bacary Sagna's header was saved by David Marshall before Walcott converted Jack Wilshere's sublime pass.

Wilshere had earlier hit the post for a frustrated Gunners side.

Cardiff are set to name Solskjaer as Malky Mackay's successor.

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Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Arsenal

  • 01 Szczesny
  • 03 Sagna
  • 17 Monreal
  • 20 Flamini (Vermaelen - 65' )
  • 04 Mertesacker Booked
  • 06 Koscielny
  • 14 Walcott
  • 08 Arteta
  • 09 Podolski (Bendtner - 64' )
  • 10 Wilshere
  • 19 Cazorla

Substitutes

  • 05 Vermaelen
  • 07 Rosicky
  • 21 Fabianski
  • 23 Bendtner (Vermaelen - 90' )
  • 25 Jenkinson
  • 31 Miyaichi
  • 44 Gnabry

Cardiff City

  • 01 Marshall Booked
  • 25 McNaughton
  • 42 John
  • 08 Medel (Gunnarsson - 61' )
  • 04 Caulker
  • 06 Turner Booked
  • 16 Noone
  • 13 Kim
  • 10 Campbell (Maynard - 80' )
  • 18 Mutch (Cowie - 68' )
  • 07 Whittingham

Substitutes

  • 05 Hudson
  • 09 Cornelius
  • 14 Smith
  • 17 Gunnarsson
  • 19 Cowie
  • 23 Maynard
  • 32 Lewis
Ref: Jonathan Moss
Att: 60,004

Match Stats

Shots

25 7

On target

6 2

Corners

12 2

Fouls

6 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:09 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Cardiff City 0.

90:00 +4:11

Attempt saved. Steven Caulker (Cardiff City) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.

90:00 +3:47

Foul by Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal).

90:00 +3:47

Declan John (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

90:00 +1:17 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Arsenal 2, Cardiff City 0. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jack Wilshere with a through ball.

90:00 +0:40

Per Mertesacker (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90:00 +0:40

Foul by Nicky Maynard (Cardiff City).

89:30 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Arsenal. Thomas Vermaelen replaces Nicklas Bendtner because of an injury.

89:01

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

88:45

Delay in match Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal) because of an injury.

87:38 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Arsenal 1, Cardiff City 0. Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the high centre of the goal.

87:37

Attempt saved. Bacary Sagna (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

86:33

Offside, Arsenal. Tomas Rosicky tries a through ball, but Nicklas Bendtner is caught offside.

86:21

Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

86:21

Foul by Kim Bo-Kyung (Cardiff City).

85:27

Attempt missed. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Nicklas Bendtner.

84:24

Attempt saved. Santiago Cazorla (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Mikel Arteta.

83:12

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Aron Gunnarsson.

83:07

Attempt blocked. Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Santiago Cazorla with a cross.

82:52

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by David Marshall.

81:16

Attempt missed. Steven Caulker (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.

80:24

Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Laurent Koscielny.

79:43

Attempt missed. Kim Bo-Kyung (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Don Cowie.

79:16 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Cardiff City. Nicky Maynard replaces Fraizer Campbell.

75:53

Per Mertesacker (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

75:53

Foul by Kim Bo-Kyung (Cardiff City).

74:59

Attempt missed. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.

74:15

Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

74:15

Foul by Craig Noone (Cardiff City).

71:43

Attempt saved. Santiago Cazorla (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tomas Rosicky.

69:54

Attempt missed. Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

69:18

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Fraizer Campbell.

69:10

Attempt blocked. Per Mertesacker (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Theo Walcott with a cross.

68:51

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Declan John.

67:58

Per Mertesacker (Arsenal) hits the left post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Theo Walcott with a cross following a corner.

67:40

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Ben Turner.

67:06 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Cardiff City. Don Cowie replaces Jordon Mutch because of an injury.

66:25

Attempt missed. Per Mertesacker (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Theo Walcott with a cross following a corner.

66:10

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

65:24

Delay in match Jordon Mutch (Cardiff City) because of an injury.

65:03

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Declan John.

64:12 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Arsenal. Tomas Rosicky replaces Mathieu Flamini.

64:00 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Arsenal. Nicklas Bendtner replaces Lukas Podolski.

63:29

Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by Nacho Monreal.

60:33 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Cardiff City. Aron Gunnarsson replaces Gary Medel.

59:43

Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Wojciech Szczesny.

59:15 Booking

Booking David Marshall (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card.

58:42

Foul by Mikel Arteta (Arsenal).

58:42

Jordon Mutch (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

57:06

Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

57:06

Foul by Gary Medel (Cardiff City).

56:17

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Jordon Mutch.

55:53

Attempt missed. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner.

55:34

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Kevin McNaughton.

54:14 Booking

Booking Ben Turner (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

54:06

Theo Walcott (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.

54:06

Foul by Ben Turner (Cardiff City).

52:49

Attempt saved. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Laurent Koscielny with a headed pass.

52:25

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Steven Caulker.

52:20

Attempt blocked. Lukas Podolski (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nacho Monreal.

50:44

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Steven Caulker.

49:13

Attempt missed. Bacary Sagna (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.

46:56

Attempt blocked. Jordon Mutch (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Declan John.

45:00

Second Half begins Arsenal 0, Cardiff City 0.

45:00 +2:05 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Arsenal 0, Cardiff City 0.

45:00 +1:01

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Kim Bo-Kyung.

43:58

Foul by Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal).

43:58

Fraizer Campbell (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

43:02

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Steven Caulker.

42:58

Attempt blocked. Santiago Cazorla (Arsenal) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jack Wilshere.

41:59

Offside, Cardiff City. Ben Turner tries a through ball, but Fraizer Campbell is caught offside.

41:29

Attempt missed. Craig Noone (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Fraizer Campbell.

39:01

Attempt blocked. Jordon Mutch (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Fraizer Campbell.

33:45

Foul by Theo Walcott (Arsenal).

33:45

Declan John (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

33:29

Attempt blocked. Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Theo Walcott.

32:07

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

31:42

Delay in match Craig Noone (Cardiff City) because of an injury.

30:43

Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

30:43

Foul by Jordon Mutch (Cardiff City).

30:07

Attempt missed. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Santiago Cazorla.

29:07

Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

29:07

Foul by Fraizer Campbell (Cardiff City).

27:45 Booking

Booking Per Mertesacker (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

27:24

Attempt saved. Jordon Mutch (Cardiff City) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom right corner.

27:08

Attempt missed. Santiago Cazorla (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Mathieu Flamini.

25:22

Attempt missed. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Mikel Arteta.

23:34

Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

23:34

Foul by Jordon Mutch (Cardiff City).

17:18

Attempt missed. Santiago Cazorla (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jack Wilshere.

15:04

Attempt blocked. Bacary Sagna (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

14:01

Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

14:01

Foul by Gary Medel (Cardiff City).

12:54

Attempt missed. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jack Wilshere with a cross.

11:49

Offside, Cardiff City. Jordon Mutch tries a through ball, but Fraizer Campbell is caught offside.

9:20

Offside, Cardiff City. Peter Whittingham tries a through ball, but Ben Turner is caught offside.

8:54

Foul by Santiago Cazorla (Arsenal).

8:54

Jordon Mutch (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

8:11

Offside, Arsenal. Mikel Arteta tries a through ball, but Theo Walcott is caught offside.

7:42

Lukas Podolski (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.

7:42

Foul by Jordon Mutch (Cardiff City).

3:53

Offside, Arsenal. Jack Wilshere tries a through ball, but Theo Walcott is caught offside.

2:05

Kim Bo-Kyung (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

2:05

Foul by Mikel Arteta (Arsenal).

0:00

First Half begins.

0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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