Arsenal vs Cardiff line-ups: Teams confirmed at the Emirates as Mesut Ozil starts

Arsenal host Cardiff tonight on what will be an emotional evening at the Emirates.

The Bluebirds are in the capital for their first match since the disappearance of their new striker Emiliano Sala.

Sala was travelling from Nantes to south Wales last week when his plane went off the radar over the English Channel and a search and rescue mission has failed to find him or pilot David Ibbotson.

Both clubs will pay their respects before the game with a floral tribute of daffodils and tulips and a moment of silent reflection.

While the football will take a backseat this evening, the Premier League match is an important one at both ends of the table.

Arsenal need a win to keep pace with Chelsea in the top-four while Cardiff are in a relegation scrap.

Arsenal vs Cardiff: Team news

Arsenal have a host of defensive issues for the visit of Cardiff, with Sokratis Papastathopoulos out for up to a month with an ankle problem and Laurent Koscielny also sidelined.

Sokratis and fellow centre-back Koscielny were injured in last Friday’s 3-1 FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.

Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck are long-term absentees and while Henrikh Mkhitaryan is back in training, he has not made the squad.

As for Cardiff, Neil Warnock has admitted some of his players are not in the right frame of mind to play at Arsenal following the club’s difficult week.

Captain Sean Morrison is out as recovers from an appendicitis operation.

Arsenal vs Cardiff: Line-ups

Arsenal: Leno, Lichtsteiner, Mustafi, Monreal, Kolasinac, Elneny, Torreira, Guendouzi, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang.

Subs: Cech, Ramsey, Iwobi, Jenkinson, Mavropanos, Xhaka, Nketiah.
Cardiff: Etheridge, Peltier, Ecuele Manga, Bamba, Bennett, Gunnarsson, Paterson, Arter, Ralls, Reid, Niasse.

Subs: Zohore, Smithies, Cunningham, Mendez-Laing, Harris, Healey, Hoilett.
Referee: Mike Dean

Arsenal vs Cardiff: Kick-off time and how to follow

The Premier League clash in north London will get underway at 7:45pm this evening.

talkSPORT will be around the grounds tonight with Natalie Sawyer bringing you all the latest news and goals from the Emirates.

Our coverage will get going from 7pm and you can find out how to tune in by clicking here.