Arsenal star in top condition ahead of new season
It has been reported that Arsenal’s right-back Cedric Soares has come back to the preseason in great shape and has subsequently impressed the coaches with his performances in training.
The former Southampton defender was brought in on loan in January 2020, before signing permanently on a four-year deal last summer.
The defender has been reliable when called upon by manager Mikel Arteta but lost his place completely after Arsenal drew 1-1 with Slavia Prague in the Europa League quarterfinal.
However, the 29-year-old has returned in great shape and is in contention to start the opening game of the Premier League against newly promoted Brentford.
Although some section of the Arsenal faithful would argue that signing a right-back this summer is crucial, it is definitely not a priority position.
There are other areas of the pitch that needs more tending and the club already have plenty of options in Cedric, Calum Chambers, Ainsley Maitland Niles and Hector Bellerin.
It’s natural to assume that there will be departures on that side of the pitch.
Inter CEO Marotta to Sky Sport: “Hector Bellerin is a player we’re following… but I can’t say more. Alex Telles? I can’t exclude this possibility but we're making our plans and we’ll see. We’re now planning to keep our best players after selling Hakimi”. 🔵 #Inter #AFC #MUFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 17, 2021
Bellerin is reportedly determined to leave the North London outfit this summer, with the player’s camp in constant conversation with clubs in Italy as well as Spain.
Until now, Italian champions Inter Milan have shown the strongest interest, and are willing to sign him on a loan deal, with an option to buy.
In Maitland Niles’ case, his stance of playing in midfield might mean his Arsenal career is over, with the club having already signed Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht, while also pursuing a “more experienced head” to partner Thomas Partey.
Mikel Arteta will be pleased with Cedric’s commitment and the Portugal international would fit what the Spaniard is trying to build at the Emirates Stadium. Dedication and hard work are the base which can lead Arsenal to great heights again.
Good work out there today! 📈⚽️💪🏼#NewSeason #Arsenal #Team #Hardwork #Focus #COYG #Work pic.twitter.com/TkSrZSZeSM
— Cédric Soares (@OficialCedric) July 24, 2021
It was then Chambers who displaced the former Southampton man from the right back slot. Both have impressed and both have shown that they can compete and push one another.
Despite being decent players, both are certainly not long-term solutions to the Gunners’ right-back problems.
Even though Arsenal can do with those two in the next campaign, they should be constantly scanning the market for deep-rooted answers.
LOL.
He’s been pretty decent when playing for the most part, a good squad player.
No really sure why he was being used then all of a sudden ousted for months.
Fair comments
I’m getting the feeling that Arteta puts discipline at the heart of the team, be it likes of Cedric who is described – in good shape, and in the work ethic and mental maturity area as shown by the likes of the youthful ESR, Tierney and Saka.
Talent should always be targeted but a few good, honest pros , operating on an even keel are vital as well IMO
Totally Agree SueP.
I wonder just how good Tavares right foot is ?
I also think we are “having to cut our cloth accordingly”.
Rather than dishing out £250M to “splash” as we were told (and laughed at) , it was far more likely Kroenke handed down the message “you have to sell to buy” full stop.
And sell what – the likes of ESR , Saka & Tierney are going nowhere, end of.
In reality, what does that leave above say 15 – 20M
here and there?
No, we have allowed ourselves to get in a position of loan, loan, loan.
However, I do fully except the impact of Covid on the market.
But would we be having the same difficulties anyway – I strongly suspect so.
We all know our record in trying to actually SELL players for hard cash – woeful.
For me, this has undoubtedly hampered this window.
I was /still am hoping for a new R/B, but your scenario above is not a disaster of a solution allowing us to spend in more pressing areas of the side.
But with all due respect, not Bellerin retained please – there are a few positions we desperately need new faces and a fresh mentality, R/B is absolutely one of them.
Another point which I think is relevant.
Is not our inability to shift what we have, an indication of the below par squad this manger was expected to come in and work miracles with ?
Or is it ALL down to wages we can’t shift half of our lot- in my opinion …. no.
For me, some should take a step back and think “you know what , despite all my criticism of M A at least he has come in and exposed just how under strength we are to compete in any meaningful way and has recommended addressing this” .
Just my musings 😉
SueP, “honest pros” are often missing in recent Arsenal players.
reported ? by whom? Stevie Wonder? He has played and demonstrated he still lacks speed and the ability to cross. Nothing has changed from last season where Chambers ended up usurping him
Apparently Charlton want Bellerin on a free and if he agrees to a 50k p/w pay cut.
Apparently Chambers is to move to Bradford Park Avenue if Arsenal let him go on a free and he accepts two chip butty sandwiches as his weekly payment.
So “apparently” none of these players want to leave.
I’m sure there was a point in there somewhere.
To be honest here, I would like CC to be our 1st choice RB this season.
He imo, is prefect for the way WE play, he may not be the fastest but he does have some speed, he is better than anyone we have at RB playing the ball aswel imo, he’s also alot taller and better aerially.
Also atm we have 3 ( 4with AMN and also White can play there ) and the market isnt great for RB’s atm, well ones that are a drastic improvement on what we have and money we would want to spend in that area considering our needs to bolster the midfield.
He is also extremely versatile and can allow us to change formations / tactics easier.
So imo, i would rather us get a some midfield improvements over signing another RB.
I think Cedric is a good, but is a very inconsistent right back, and is not going to really be of enough quality. Max Aarons is 21 and potentially a top RB for 10 years. No brainer. We could get him now.
A short and perhaps obvious article but nothing YASH wrote is anything but true. YES, Chambers and Cedric, who are both massive upgrades on the woeful Bellerin, can do the job in the short term.
In fact, Chambers made a more than adequate fist of the RB slot last season and I would be glad to see him get a real chance this year,unless wehad the chance to get a real top class RB elsewhere but with Scrooge Kroenke holding back money, that would be a shock TBH.
What may be impossible is to shift Bellerin for any fee at all. No other clubs are quite the mugs we have been with this far less than adequate defender, who has lost the ONLY asset he once had, in his speed.
Cedric is such a brilliant player each time I watch him. He’s a big team player. Imagine him in a PSG. I think some players actually have to play for big teams in order to get the respect they deserve.
I see him in the same light I saw Martinez and many of me fellow fans didn’t.
I like Cedric. Not a long term solution, but he’s fine for now. Will need competition if we can unload bellerin, and I do not count chambers or amn. Amn is a midfielder, not a natural defender. He can play there in spots but shouldn’t be there long term.
Chambers is a central player. CB or central midfield are hits best positions, always have been. He works at rob for a bit, but teams will figure him out quickly, just as they have the last time he played rb for us.
I like that we are getting a lot of new young talent in. But if the players aren’t there it’s best not to force it. Let bellerin go and find a cheapish veteran to compete with Cedric. Same with gk. Please don’t let me wake up to news that we’re paying 30 mil for a backup gk just because he’s young and English. Are you telling me we can’t find a vet on a 2 year contract with hg status that would serve just as well as ramsdale?
Based on performances, Chambers is clearly the best of our 3 RBs, if crosses and defense matter.
I’d be curious to see what Tavares can do as a RB. With only domestic games Chambers could be backup and Cedric backup Tierney.
Still a long ways to go, and without a quality partner in midfield for Partey, I don’t think we’re getting into the top 6.
Personally think Ramsdale is needless waste of valuable funds when all we need is a capable backup GK for this year.
Lokonga is quite underated..a lot of us would be amazed at the talent we got… partnership with partey would be the talk of the season…. looking forward to that…All we need is a creative midfielder to cover for ESR and a back up GK
what a brilliant plan…maybe it’s just me, but it seems like a “new” signing…how could you not be excited about that…everything that’s old is new again…what could possibly go wrong
he’s fine, not spectacular. His experience goes a long way actually and i think he’d be okay to start ahead of our other options. if we dont get a new rb it would be a disappointment. As long as we sell hector that would be good. We’d need to look into a RB next window ASAP tho.