The game was Cardiff’s first fixture since their record signing Emiliano Sala’s plane went missing over the English Channel over a week ago and both sides paid tribute to the Argentinian striker before kick-off.
Arsenal had been in inconsistent form of late and that showed as they struggled through the first hour of the contest, while Cardiff seemed fairly comfortable as they were looking for a first win in four to ease their relegation fears.
However, after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put Unai Emery’s men ahead from the penalty spot, it was game-over when Alexandre Lacazette made it 2-0 seven minutes from time.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing grabbed a consolation in stoppage time, but Arsenal held on for the win to move level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea, while Cardiff remain in the final relegation place, three points adrift of safety.
Arsenal boasted seven changes to the side beaten 3-1 by Manchester United in the FA Cup on Friday as Mesut Ozil was handed his first Premier League start of the New Year as captain, while Bernd Leno, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Nacho Monreal, Shkodran Mustafi, Mohamed Elneny and Matteo Guendouzi also came in.
Cardiff made three changes following their 3-0 defeat at Newcastle last time out as Bobby Reid, Aron Gunnarsson and Harry Arter returned in place of Mendez-Laing, Victor Camarasa and Junior Hoilett.
The Gunners started brightly and went close to breaking the deadlock in the second minute when Sead Kolasinac raced away down the left and his low cross was pushed into the path of Lacazette by Neil Etheridge, but his effort was hacked off the line by Bruno Manga.
Arsenal continued to press but it was the Bluebirds who had a great chance to break the deadlock in the 12th minute when Reid bundled his way past a couple of home defenders before firing his shot just wide of Leno’s upright.
Three minutes later Callum Paterson whipped in a lovely cross into the area from the left towards Reid, but this time he sent his near post header over the crossbar from eight yards.
On 16 minutes Oumar Niasse charged into the area and went to ground under challenges from both Monreal and Kolasinac but referee Mike Dean waved away his penalty appeal.
Arsenal then had a penalty shout waved away moments later when Manga put in a clumsy tackle on Lacazette and Frenchman went down in the box.
Cardiff continued to hold their own and successfully kept Arsenal at bay throughout the remainder of the half while even looking the more likely to break the deadlock when Niasse got in behind and flashed the ball across the face of goal.
The visitors started the second half how they finished the first on the front foot with Paterson twice having efforts at the Arsenal goal.
On 63 minutes a cross-shot from Joe Ralls dropped to Niasse in the area, but his effort was well blocked by Mustafi’s last-ditch challenge.
However, it was Arsenal who took the lead just three minutes later when they were awarded a penalty after Manga brought down Kolasinac inside the area and Aubameyang sent his spot-kick past Etheridge.
The Gunners almost sealed the win on 68 minutes when substitute Alex Iwobi was released into the area by Ozil and his fierce drive was pushed away by Etheridge.
It was 2-0 on 83 minutes when Lacazette skipped away from Sol Bamba on the right and advanced into the area before firing his shot past Etheridge.
There was still time for Cardiff to grab a goal in the 93rd minute when Mendez-Laing picked up a Paterson knockdown in the area and fired a left-foot shot past Leno, but it was too little too late.