SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 18: Cedric of Southampton celebrates during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at St Mary's Stadium on January 18, 2020 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Arsenal: 5 reasons everyone is wrong about Cedric Soares
by Josh Sippie
Arsenal made a judgement call in signing Cedric Soares, and some fans just don’t get it. Here are 5 reasons why all the naysayers are dead wrong.
Arsenal, Cedric Soares (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
I was thrilled with Arsenal‘s business this January. Of course, not everyone was. There are some people who will never be pleased. (*cough* Charlie Nicholas *cough*). And those never-pleasers are not happy with the addition of Cedric Soares.
So unhappy, in fact, that it is surprising to even me, someone who constantly remarks how awful most fans are.
But it’s not just fans. It’s “experts” and opposing clubs and all kinds of different parties. All scratching their head at Arsenal signing Cedric Soares, wondering why this needed to happen, laughing at our decision to make the move.
Well, all those fools are wrong. And because you asked so nicely, I am going to enlighten you so that you can be one of the few folks in the mass of ignorance that understands why this move was such a good idea, and thus why all these doubters are wrong.
To make it easier to digest, I’ve boiled it down to five key points. We start with No. 5.
5. Depth
You gotta have it right? Arsene Wenger was notorious for not having enough depth on the squad. Single injuries would undo the fortunes of the club. Part of this, I believe, comes down to his desire to play his favorites, and if he had too much depth, and too many favorites, he would never be able to field them all.
So he kept some positions noticeably thin, including fullback. Our fullback situation was a mess under Wenger. How long were we stuck with just Nacho Monreal? Granted, we all love Nacho Monreal, but by himself he was never going to be enough. It took a long time to finally go and get Sead Kolasinac, and even then, he was for free. We weren’t going to spend money.
This move adds significant depth. Serious depth. The kind of depth that lets you tune out of the entire position. But more on that later. For now, let’s move on to No. 4.
Arsenal‘s business this January. Of course, not everyone was. There are some people who will never be pleased. (*cough* Charlie Nicholas *cough*). And those never-pleasers are not happy with the addition of <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"https://fbref.com/en/players/839c14e1/Cedric-Soares?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Cedric Soares</a>.</p>
<p><em>So</em> unhappy, in fact, that it is surprising to even me, someone who constantly remarks how awful most fans are.</p>
<p>But it’s not just fans. It’s “experts” and opposing clubs and all kinds of different parties. All scratching their head at Arsenal signing Cedric Soares, wondering why this needed to happen, laughing at our decision to make the move.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="3 Things Arteta Must Consider" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/05/arsenal-3-mikel-arteta-consider/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"> <div class="story-link-related"> <a class="story-link-related-btn" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-related-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/05/arsenal-3-mikel-arteta-consider/"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> 3 Things Arteta Must Consider </a> </div>
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<p>Well, all those fools are wrong. And because you asked so nicely, I am going to enlighten you so that you can be one of the few folks in the mass of ignorance that understands why this move was such a good idea, and thus why all these doubters are wrong.</p>
<p>To make it easier to digest, I’ve boiled it down to five key points. We start with No. 5.</p>
<h3>5. Depth</h3>
<p>You gotta have it right? Arsene Wenger was notorious for not having enough depth on the squad. Single injuries would undo the fortunes of the club. Part of this, I believe, comes down to his desire to play his favorites, and if he had too much depth, and too many favorites, he would never be able to field them all.</p>
<p>So he kept some positions noticeably thin, including fullback. Our fullback situation was a mess under Wenger. How long were we stuck with <em>just</em> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"https://fbref.com/en/players/d4cb83cc/Nacho-Monreal?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Nacho Monreal</a>? Granted, we all love Nacho Monreal, but by himself he was never going to be enough. It took a long time to finally go and get <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"https://fbref.com/en/players/3935e52e/Sead-Kolasinac?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Sead Kolasinac</a>, and even then, he was for free. We weren’t going to spend money.</p>
<p>This move adds significant depth. Serious depth. The kind of depth that lets you tune out of the entire position. But more on that later. For now, let’s move on to No. 4.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. Lost, but found </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-98225" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1171328044.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Cedric Soares" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1171328044.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1171328044-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">(Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>4. Reliability</h3>
<p>Let’s talk about Nacho Monreal again. When he was with the club, we knew exactly what he was going to give us. He would give us about a 6.0-7.0 outing every single match. It wasn’t exciting, though he did sometimes chip in with stellar performances. But it was reliable. Which was nice.</p>
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<p>Nowadays, we have a whole lot of unreliability. <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"https://fbref.com/en/players/f874dd44/Hector-Bellerin?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Hector Bellerin</a> can’t stay healthy. <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"https://fbref.com/en/players/e3a5814e/Ainsley-Maitland-Niles?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Ainsley Maitland-Niles</a> is still trying to settle into the defensive responsibilities, Sead Kolasinac is great but remains a bit of a wild card and <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"https://fbref.com/en/players/fce2302c/Kieran-Tierney?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kieran Tierney</a> has only played 299 Premier League minutes since arriving with the club.</p>
<p>There is a lot of talent in our fullbacks, but not a lot of reliability. Cedric Soares gives us that reliability. The dude has been on cruise control at Southampton for five years. He’s played approximately 10,000 Premier League minutes and he’s only 28-years old. That’s what we called seasoned with a sprinkle of long-term viability.</p>
<p>I would be incredibly surprised if this loan didn’t turn into a permanent move. What’s there to lose? Speaking of which, let’s talk No. 3.</p>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-98260" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2194,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1201006579.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Cedric Soares" width="3200" height="2194" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1201006579.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1201006579-768x527.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">(Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>3. No risk</h3>
<p>No matter who the signing is, if it’s a loan, there is zero risk. <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"https://fbref.com/en/players/c9880157/Kim-Kallstrom?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Kim Kallstrom</a>? Zero risk. Sure, he’s become a joke. But the reason he isn’t still moaned and groaned about is because he cost us nothing. It reflected worse on Arsene Wenger than it did on Kallstrom.</p>
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<p>Same goes with <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"https://fbref.com/en/players/12c50af5/Denis-Suarez?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Denis Suarez</a>. At the time, people called him a failure. But what did we really lose? He got hurt, didn’t play much, went home, and here we are just a year later and no one talks about him. We lost nothing. We tried something. It didn’t work. We ended it.</p>
<p>Cedric (and <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"https://fbref.com/en/players/aa54ec6f/Pablo-Mari?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Pablo Mari</a> for that matter) are in the same boat. Though I expect them both to do far more than Kallstrom was able to. And Suarez.</p>
<p>If, somehow, Cedric’s loan doesn’t work out. We just end it. No harm no foul. We don’t lose a ton of money, we aren’t forced to find a new home for him. We don’t have to worry about offloading him. He just leaves. Big whoop. So again I ask, what’s there to lose?</p>
<p>The correct answer is ‘nothing’.</p>
<p>No. 2 next.</p>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-95352" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1183408277.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Hector Bellerin" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1183408277.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1183408277-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">(Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>2. Completes the fullback position</h3>
<p>This is a big deal. I don’t often talk about <em>any </em>position at Arsenal being complete. Honestly, right now, it’s only in goal that I find myself never worrying about what comes next. We’re set. <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"https://fbref.com/en/players/2628fd2b/Bernd-Leno?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Bernd Leno</a> is here, we’ve got capable back-ups. We’re good to go.</p>
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<p>No other position is like that. Or <em>was</em> like that, since fullback is now exactly that. It’s complete.</p>
<p>Unlike Arsene Wenger’s policy of keeping just one fullback on each side, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"https://fbref.com/en/players/d934d1e6/Mikel-Arteta?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mikel Arteta</a> now has two fullbacks on each side, with some spare change as well. At rightback, we have Hector Bellerin and Cedric Soares, both proven Premier League talents.</p>
<p>At leftback, we have Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac. Both exciting, talented players that can hold down the position for certain.</p>
<p>If things get sticky and injuries hit, like they currently are, Soares can float between positions. If we <em>really</em> need to get creative, we can pull Ainsley Maitland-Niles and <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"https://fbref.com/en/players/bc7dc64d/Bukayo-Saka?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bukayo Saka</a> back into the mix. But once we’re fully healthy, that latter option should never have to be called on again. And that’s what leads me into a No. 1 that I can’t stop talking about.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. Do you hear the bells? </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-96622" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/02/06/arsenal-5-everyone-wrong-cedric-soares/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2278,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1194126787.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2278" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1194126787.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1194126787-768x547.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>1. Let freedom ring!</h3>
<p>I think a lot of us had reached the point where we had written off Ainsley Maitland-Niles midfield future. He was a rightback now. That’s all there was to it. And that’s sad. He’s 22-years-old and can’t get a minute in his preferred position.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>Seeing the same happen to Bukayo Saka was disturbing. We had to nip that in the bud before he started to become more of a leftback than a winger, where he belonged.</p>
<p>That wasn’t going to happen easily, or cheaply. Finding a proven fullback who can float between roles is a tough ask, and usually that person is going to require guarantees, or won’t be Premier League seasoned.</p>
<p>Cedric single-handedly unlocks the full future of Maitland-Niles and Saka. His presence alone creates such a firm foundation at fullback that they won’t be needed in these positions except in moments of sheer desperation.</p>
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<p>This is a huge win, and not enough people are celebrating it. For this reason alone, Cedric is worth it. So stop moaning and start appreciating.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">
