Late strikes from Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott were enough to hand Arsenal victory over Cardiff City in their Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium to move them back to the Premier League summit.
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The Gunners threatened first up when Jack Wilshere raided forward from the back and he curled a cross to the back post, which Walcott nearly latched on to as he slid to make contact but he put his effort just wide.
Wilshere was pulling all the strings in midfield and then created another opportunity for his side as he laid a ball off to Santi Cazorla, but he could only fire his left-footed effort wide of the target from the edge of the area.
Cazorla then nearly turned provider for Walcott as he slid a through ball into the England international, who cut back onto his left foot down the right flank, but again he could only put his effort wide hitting the side-netting.
After the break, Wilshere went close on his own this time as he moved down the pitch beating two defenders before firing an effort at goal, which looked to be creeping into the top corner but David Marshall made a great save to keep the ball out.
Per Mertesacker then missed a glorious chance as a cross was whipped in the from the right and he rose above everyone else in the area and glanced a header from close range wide of the target.
Minutes later, Mertesacker was presented with another great opportunity as this time the ball fell to him inside the area and he fired a low effort at goal, but it clipped the post and went out for a goal kick.
In the 88th minute, Arsenal finally ended Cardiff's resistance as Marshall denied Bacary Sagna but Bendtner pounced on the rebound and fired the ball into the net.
Walcott secured the three points for the Gunners in the 90th minute as he raced onto a through-ball from Wilshere and lifted an effort over Marshall with a chip.
Simon Sinclair
