Dream return for Eduardo

The Croatia international started and finished a fine move for the opener before slotting home a second-half penalty to score his first goals since February 2 last year.

Nicklas Bendtner and Robin van Persie scored the others, with only some fine saves by on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Tom Heaton keeping the score short of embarrassing.

Arsenal dominated from the off and with 20 minutes gone, Eduardo had his goal.

He drove forward towards the Cardiff box, laying the ball off to Carlos Vela before continuing his run to head a hanging cross into the net.

Cardiff battled to fight back but had neither the quality nor the possession to put their opponents under pressure. Instead they slipped further behind, Bendtner beating two markers to head home a 32nd-minute corner.

Heaton then pulled off two stunning saves, kicking Vela's close-range shot away with an outstretched leg before blocking a point-blank effort from Bendtner who had already hit the post from three yards.

Vela had a penalty shout turned down by referee Mark Halsey after 57 minutes but Eduardo's appeal was upheld three minutes later following a Gavin Rae foul. Eduardo stepped up himself and slotted home calmly for his second.

Eduardo had one opportunity to secure his fairytale hat-trick denied by the impressive Heaton before making way for former Cardiff player Aaron Ramsey.

And substitute van Persie, who also hit the post in injury-time, rolled home from Bendtner's assist to make it four in the 89th minute after Cardiff gifted the Gunners possession in the final third.