Why Cedric could become a starting option for Arsenal

Arteta has confirmed that Cedric could become a starting option for Arsenal after impressive commitment has been appreciated by the Spaniard.

By Tom Canton Published: January 21, 2021 12:04 pmLast Updated: January 21, 2021 7:58 pm

Cedric over Bellerin?

Arsenal signed the Portuguese international right-back Cedric from Southampton in January of 2020 on loan until the end of the season. At the completion of the 2019/20 campaign, his contract expired with the Saints and Arsenal moved to secure his services on a 4-year contract.

The full-back has not been a regular starter in the Arsenal senior squad for the league but has played a few games in European competition this season. Hector Bellerin has been Arsenal’s first-choice right-back for a number of seasons since establishing himself as Bacary Sagna’s long-term replacement after Mathieu Debuchy experienced a number of injury issues.

Cedric earned his first Premier League start of the season in the 3-0 win over Newcastle, keeping a clean sheet and setting up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for his second of the match.

It was very close to going out of play before Cedric could cross the ball but VAR deemed him to have done well to keep it in play. Could this mean that the 29-year-old has more of a future of starting?

Arteta explains Cedric decision

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s FA Cup match with Southampton, Arteta spoke about the work which Cedric has put in and that he is now being rewarded for that, even suggesting he has a chance to earn the spot for himself.

“Yes,” Arteta said when asked if Cedric could challenge Bellerin. “When he joined us he had various injuries and some difficult times, as you mentioned. It took him a little bit of time to adapt and get completely free and now earn the chances to play.”

“The best thing with Cedric is the way he takes his profession, the way he trains, the way he prepares himself. So every time that we had to use him, he was always ready and always fit to compete.”

“Even not playing for many parts of the season, when he had to play 120 minutes he was completely ready. The other night I think he had a really good game.”

LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Cedric Soares of Southampton is challenged by Danny Rose of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton FC at Wembley Stadium on December 5, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arteta revealed that it has been Cedric’s desire and commitment in training that has led to his inclusion more so than simple rotation.

“When I see someone behaving like he has done and training like he has done, all the time trying to help but accepting my decision – which is tough for him – but at the end, challenging in a way where he is all the time competing in training and when he has the chance to play he does it well and all the time asking for reasons why he’s not playing and what he has to do better.”

“I just want to reward this kind of behaviour and player and Cedric has done that for sure.”

Cedric could be in line to start against his former club at the weekend as the Gunners face the Saints in back to back fixtures with a Premier League tie awaiting them on Tuesday again on the south coast.

Hector Bellerin launches stern defence of Arsenal following Liverpool defeat Arsenal want Hector Bellerin stay amid Barcelona interest but Tariq Lamptey is tipped to be Gunners ideal replacement

This article was edited by Josh Barker.

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Premier League table

# Team MP D P 1 Manchester United FC 19 11 40 2 Manchester City FC 18 18 38 3 Leicester City FC 19 14 38 4 Liverpool FC 19 15 34 5 Tottenham Hotspur FC 18 16 33 6 Everton FC 17 7 32 7 West Ham United FC 19 5 32 8 Aston Villa FC 17 13 29 9 Chelsea FC 19 10 29 10 Southampton FC 18 5 29 11 Arsenal FC 19 4 27 12 Leeds United 18 -4 23 13 Crystal Palace FC 19 -11 23 14 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 19 -8 22 15 Burnley FC 18 -12 19 16 Newcastle United FC 19 -14 19 17 Brighton & Hove Albion FC 19 -7 17 18 Fulham FC 18 -12 12 19 West Bromwich Albion 19 -28 11 20 Sheffield United FC 19 -22 5 Player Team Goals Salah, Mohamed Liverpool FC 13 Kane, Harry Tottenham Hotspur FC 12 Son, Heung Min Tottenham Hotspur FC 12 Fernandes, Bruno Manchester United FC 11 Vardy, Jamie Leicester City FC 11 Calvert-Lewin, Dominic Everton FC 11 Bamford, Patrick Leeds United 10 Zaha, Wilfried Crystal Palace FC 9 Wilson, Callum Newcastle United FC 8 Lacazette, Alexandre Arsenal FC 8 Rashford, Marcus Manchester United FC 7 Ings, Danny Southampton FC 7 Watkins, Ollie Aston Villa FC 7 Maupay, Neal Brighton & Hove Albion FC 7 Gundogan, Ilkay Manchester City FC 7 Soucek, Tomas West Ham United FC 7 Sterling, Raheem Manchester City FC 6 Mane, Sadio Liverpool FC 6 Maddison, James Leicester City FC 6 Barnes, Harvey Leicester City FC 6 Player Team Red Cards Yellow Cards Bellerin, Hector Arsenal FC 0 7 Gallagher, Conor West Bromwich Albion 0 6 Bissouma, Yves Brighton & Hove Albion FC 1 5 Egan, John Sheffield United FC 1 5 Hayden, Isaac Newcastle United FC 0 6 McGinn, John Aston Villa FC 0 5 Reid, Bobby Fulham FC 0 5 Doucoure, Abdoulaye Everton FC 0 5 Romeu, Oriol Southampton FC 0 5 Dunk, Lewis Brighton & Hove Albion FC 1 4 Phillips, Kalvin Leeds United 0 5 Cash, Matty Aston Villa FC 0 5 Evans, Jonny Leicester City FC 0 5 Lundstram, John Sheffield United FC 1 4 Kante, N`Golo Chelsea FC 0 5 Milivojevic, Luka Crystal Palace FC 1 4 Fernandes, Bruno Manchester United FC 0 4 Grealish, Jack Aston Villa FC 0 4 Ward-Prowse, James Southampton FC 0 4 Tielemans, Youri Leicester City FC 0 4 Player Team Assists Kane, Harry Tottenham Hotspur FC 11 De Bruyne, Kevin Manchester City FC 9 Grealish, Jack Aston Villa FC 8 Fernandes, Bruno Manchester United FC 7 Son, Heung Min Tottenham Hotspur FC 6 Rashford, Marcus Manchester United FC 5 Ward-Prowse, James Southampton FC 5 Robertson, Andrew Liverpool FC 5 Cresswell, Aaron West Ham United FC 5 Digne, Lucas Everton FC 5 Vardy, Jamie Leicester City FC 4 Sterling, Raheem Manchester City FC 4 Werner, Timo Chelsea FC 4 Adams, Che Southampton FC 4 Harrison, Jack Leeds United 4 Chilwell, Benjamin Chelsea FC 4 McGinn, John Aston Villa FC 4 Salah, Mohamed Liverpool FC 3 Wilson, Callum Newcastle United FC 3 Ings, Danny Southampton FC 3