Arsenal played hosts to Cardiff City at the Emirates Stadium with the view of maintaining their lead at the top of the Premier League.
The Gunners finished 2013 top of the pile, while Cardiff were just two points clear of the relegation zone having recently sacked manager Malky Mackay.
In a one-sided game, Arsenal left it late but eventually pulled through with the win.
Read how the match unfolded in our live commentary below.
Happy New Year and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage from the Emirates Stadium where Arsenal host Cardiff City in the Premier League.
2013 was another top year for Premier League football, and I'm sure that 2014 will be even better. Today we have the table toppers against the team that everyone is talking about; it's Arsenal vs. Cardiff.
Arsenal have been hitting the headlines for all the right reasons recently. They've found themselves at the top of the Premier League table for practically the whole campaign having frequently been written off, and go into this match off the back of two impressive wins on the road over West Ham United and Newcastle United after a mid-December slump.
Meanwhile, you cannot keep Cardiff from the headlines at the moment, largely down to club owner Vincent Tan. His very public feud with Malky Mackay ended in the latter being sacked from the Welsh outfit, and they go into this game having conceded in the dying seconds to draw 2-2 with Sunderland at the weekend.
While they look to sort things out on the field, it does seem as if they are close to naming the new manager, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer here today at the Emirates alongside Tan.
He'll no doubt have a fantastic view to watch what looks to be his new club today. And with that, let's get the team news.
ARSENAL XI: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Arteta, Flamini, Wilshere, Walcott, Cazorla, Podolski
Arsene Wenger has made three changes to the team that earned a 1-0 win at Newcastle on Sunday.
Nacho Monreal, Mikel Arteta and Lukas Podolski all come into the starting lineup. Kieran Gibbs, Tomas Rosicky and Olivier Giroud all miss out.
Giroud has an ankle problem, while Gibbs and Rosicky (both calf) also miss out through injury. Aaron Ramsey has a thigh strain while Mesut Ozil is nursing a shoulder issue. Wilshere and Walcott both pass late fitness tests.
Here is what Wenger has in reserve for the match.
ARSENAL BENCH: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Jenkinson, Rosický, Miyaichi, Gnabry, Bendtner
So that's the Arsenal, let's take a look at what team Cardiff have put out.
CARDIFF XI: Marshall, McNaughton, Caulker, Turner, John, Whittingham, Medel, Kim, Noone, Mutch Campbell
Caretaker manager David Kerslake makes one alteration to the Cardiff side following their disappointing draw against Sunderland.
Kevin McNaughton comes into the side in place of Kevin Theophile-Catherine. Craig Bellamy remains sidelined with a knee injury.
Here are the substitutes.
CARDIFF BENCH: Lewis, Hudson, Gunnarsson, Cowie, Smith, Maynard, Cornelius
So there are your squads for today. Every player will be playing for his place in team as we enter day one of the circus that is the January transfer window.
It was the Gunners who came out on top in the reverse fixture back in November where Aaron Ramsey's brace and a Mathieu Flamini goal helped the North Londoners to a 3-0 win in the Welsh capital.
Wenger's Arsenal have seemingly recovered from their recent wobble which saw them take just two points from the three games immediately prior to Christmas; against Everton, Manchester City and Chelsea. Their win at West Ham was expected, but the victory at Newcastle required both steel and skill.
Cardiff seem to be in a little bit of a crisis at the moment, especially off the field thanks to club owner Vincent Tan. Changing the club's colours from blue to red caused fury among the fans, while the sacking of manager Malky Mackay also greatly angered supporters. How Cardiff fans would love nothing more than to forget about those issues with a shock upset at the league leaders.
The teams are in the tunnel, we're moments away from them making their way onto the field.
And out they come, it's nearly game time.
We're ready to go.
KICK OFF! Cardiff, playing from right to left, get us up and running.
Arsenal are in their home strip of red shirts with white sleeves, shorts and socks. Cardiff are sporting their all-blue away kit.
It's been a positive start from Cardiff, who have had most of the ball and are passing it around nicely.
Cazorla picks up the ball in midfield and slides the ball through towards Walcott, who is clean through, but his first touch lets him down and its head out for a goal kick.
Arsenal have started to take control, but we are yet to really have a chance. The ball over the top towards Walcott appears to be a popular choice for Arsenal, but it is yet to prove successful.
CHANCE! First real opportunity for Arsenal, as Wilshere curls a cross to the far post where Walcott is lurking, but he slides in and shoots wide.
Arsenal win a free kick in a very promising position on the edge of the box. It's about five yards outside the area to the left of centre. I imagine that Walcott and Cazorla will want this.
Surprisingly it's Sagna who takes it, but he curls it straight into the wall. The crowd seems very bemused by that move.
Arsenal are starting to hit their stride now but they need to be more clinical. Monreal races down the left and puts in a brilliant cross to the edge of the six-yard box, but none of his teammates made the run.
CHANCE! Cazorla really should do better here. Wilshere, on his 22nd birthday, turns on the right of the box and lays off an inviting pass to the Spaniard. He hits it first time, but pulls it well wide of the near post from the centre.
Cardiff are frustrating Arsenal at the moment by holding a firm shape as they get men behind the ball. They've done very well so far, but it will be difficult for them to keep this going for the whole match.
As I mentioned earlier, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is indeed at the Emirates today, sat next to club owner Vincent Tan.
It's not been the most entertaining of games so far, but the conditions are far from ideal. It's very wet out there.
Arsenal appeal for a penalty as Wilshere moves forward with the ball. He glides past a number of players before playing a one-two with Podolski. He then goes down under the challenge from Medel, but the referee Jon Moss waves away the protests.
CHANCE! Walcott is slid in on the right of the box and has options in the centre. Podolski is screaming for it square, but Walcott tries to side-foot it and the ball loops over the bar.
SAVE! We have the first Cardiff attack of the day as Jordon Mutch goes at it alone down the left. He moves inside and gets a shot away from an acute angle inside the box, but Wojciech Szczesny can make the block with his feet.
Going back to the penalty shout, and it did look as if Arsenal perhaps should have been awarded it. The Arsenal bench certainly felt it was a spot kick, as you would expect, but they have a strong case.
CHANCE! Another Arsenal attack, another Walcott miss. Cazorla brilliantly beats McNaughton on the left of the area before pulling it back to Walcott. The England international shifts it onto his left but spins the ball into the side-netting. He hangs his head in disappointment and knows that he should do better.
YELLOW CARD Per Mertesacker was booked a few moments ago for pulling back and climbing over Fraizer Campbell. The referee played advantage at the time.
Craig Noone is receiving some treatment off the pitch at the moment, I think he will be good to continue.
It's very frustrating stuff at the Emirates currently. Arsenal on the attack, Cardiff defend, nothing gives.
Cardiff have a sudden brake forward, as Noone breezes past Mertesacker and Koscielny, but the attack comes to nothing.
Bit wasteful from Noone there as he takes Monreal on the inside before firing over the bar. Noone had options in the middle and didn't make Szczesny blink, never mind move.
Wilshere tries to slide in Podolski, when the ball should go to Cazorla on the left of the box, before it rickashays to the Spaniard. He then hits a shot, which looks goalbound, but it deflects off Podolski and then a Cardiff defender for a corner. Marshall catches the Cazorla delivery.
Two minutes of added time to go.
CHANCE! Arsenal nearly find a way through right at the end of the half. Walcott is found on the right of the box, before passing it inside to Podolski. The German lets it roll across his body onto his left foot and tries to get a shot away, but Cardiff can block. Cazorla was an option at the far post, but Podolski didn't see him.
HALF TIME: Arsenal 0-0 Cardiff City
I'm being kind when I say that it was a rather uninspiring first half. Arsenal in complete control, but just couldn't take break down a solid Cardiff backline. Arsenal are comfortable, but not enough to make Cardiff uncomfortable.
Podolski looks as if he is struggling to get to grips with the centre-forward role, while Walcott has spurned some good chances. Arsenal should have had a penalty as well after Wilshere was brought down by Medel.
We're back out and ready for the second half.
KICK OFF! Arsenal, attacking the North Bank to the left, get the second half underway.
Not a lot to report so far. The Arsenal fans are making themselves heard and getting behind the players, although there isn't too much to shout about at the moment.
CHANCE! Monreal puts another good ball in from the left to the edge of the box where Cazorla is waiting. However, Sagna intercepts and has a go himself, but he can only smash it comfortably wide.
It's still all Arsenal at the moment, with Cardiff camping inside their own half, but we are yet to have a clear chance.
YELLOW CARD Turner picks up a booking for going through Walcott to get the ball. He gets the ball, but only after crunching the Arsenal man. Cardiff could maybe have just had a penalty themselves as a cross seemed to deflect off of Monreal's foot and hit his hand.
Wilshere has looked the brightest spark for Arsenal so far, gliding forward frequently to burst forward, but he hasn't been able to guide them in front.
Wilshere runs on to a little Cazorla pass on the left of the box before squaring it back into the box. Arsenal, again, fail to get their shot away though as the chance dies and Cardiff can clear.
CARDIFF CHANGE: First alteration of the match comes for the visitors as Gary Medel is replaced by Gunnarsson.
Rosicky and Bendtner are preparing to come on for Arsenal.
OFF THE POST! Brilliant effort from Wilshere as he tricks in and out on the left before firing a shot high towards the near top corner.
ARSENAL CHANGES: Rosicky and Bendtner enter the fray, with Flamini and Podolski.
CLOSE! That's the closest we've come to an opener. Arsenal clip a cross in from the right which lands on the head of Mertesacker, but the German can only nod it wide of the far post.
OFF THE POST! Unbelieveable! Mertesacker has almost an identical chance, but this time it blasts off the outside of the post.
CARDIFF CHANGE Don Cowie is on in the place of Mutch, who has been struggling over the past few minutes.
Another effort on goal from Arsenal, but this one is poor. Bendtner nods a lofted pass down on the edge of the box, which Wilshere strikes at pace, but he smashes it well wide of the right post.
How Arsenal aren't ahead is beyond me, but Cardiff are on course for a hard-earned point here. A point would not be enough to move them back above Manchester City, who beat Swansea City earlier, and back to the top of the table.
Free kick for Arsenal right on the edge of the box as Wilshere is tripped. It's to the left of the D, and Cazorla is over this. Sagna well away...
CLOSE! Walcott is the man who takes it, but he chips it onto the roof of the net.
Walcott screams at the referee for a penalty after going down in the box. Would have been soft. Arsenal are getting incredibly frustrated.
CARDIFF CHANGE Final switch for Cardiff which sees Nicky Maynard on for Campbell.
Cardiff are now having a bit of attacking possession for the first time in this half. Kim fires a shot over from outside the box on the right.
SAVE! Arsenal go close yet again as Rosicky gets on the end of a passing move inside a busy penalty area. He just about gets his shot away with the ball behind him, but Marshall pushes it out for a corner.
Cazorla hits a deflected shot from range, but the power is taken out of it and it's caught comfortably by Marshall.
Walcott spins past Turner with the greatest of ease on the right side of the box, before blazing a shot high over the bar. Real waste.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Cardiff City (Nicklas Bendtner)
Arsenal finally have their goal! Monreal scoops in a cross from the left after patient build-up before Marshall is forced into a fine save from Sagna's header, but Bendtner is on hand to smash the rebound into the roof of the net.
ARSENAL CHANGE: Bendtner injured himself in scoring that goal, so Vermaelen is on in his place.
We'll have five minutes of added time. Surely there isn't enough time for a late winner?
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Cardiff City (Theo Walcott)
That's it, all over. There is time for another goal, but it's another for Arsenal. Wilshere's first-time pass with the outside of his boot plays in Walcott, who was racing in from the right of the box, before he brilliantly lifts the ball over the head of the onrushing Marshall with a delicate chip.
SAVE! Nearly some late nerves at the Emirates as Cardiff have men forward in the box. The cross falls at the feet of an attacker, but Szczesny is quickly off his line, making himself big, to save.
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 2-0 Cardiff City
They left it late, but Arsenal finally got the win with goals from Bendtner and Walcott. Arsenal are back on top, while Cardiff are now just a point and a place clear of the relegation zone.
Well that wraps up this coverage of the match, but stick around for my analysis on the game shortly on Sports Mole.
Written by
Matt Cotton
Matt Cotton
