Arsenal defender Cedric Soares has been a forgotten figure in Mikel Arteta’s squad, and the player has admitted that he is disappointed with the lack of playing time.
The 30-year-old was one of the first players to be recruited by the Gunners under Arteta. He initially joined them on loan from Southampton before making it a permanent deal at the end of last season. He has struggled to secure a regular spot in the squad, with just 34 appearances under his belt.
With the departure of Hector Bellerin in the summer, Soares was tipped to be the regular right-back for the north Londoners. However, that has not been the case this season. Takehiro Tomiyasu, has pretty much made that position his own with some impressive performances.
The Portuguese fullback has expressed his disappointment with the current situation, but he is determined to turn things around. Soares insists he will work hard in training and not let his enthusiasm diminish. In an interview with ESPN, the 30-year-old said:
“Of course, I’m sometimes disappointed that I don’t play [as much as] I want, this is normal. If a player is not disappointed when he doesn’t play, I will not lie to you, then he doesn’t love what he does.”
“But this doesn’t need to transform you into a bad attitude in training because some players would maybe react in a different way. That would be, ‘I don’t want it anymore, that’s it.’ No, I never had this attitude and I don’t think I’ll have it. Because it’s not in me, it’s not in the way I grew up.”
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The Gunners have been producing some scintillating performances recently, so the last thing Arteta wants to do is start chopping and changing the squad. Tomiyasu has had a great start to life in north London, and it would require something special from Soares to bench the Japanese.
The former Southampton man brings a wealth of experience with him. It is also important to bear in mind that he is more than capable of filling in at left-back position. These make him a handy squad player to have around, who can provide some much-needed squad depth.
Although Soares might not replace Tomiyasu in the Premier League, he can certainly push for a starting spot in other competitions. Despite having just managed just five appearances this term, his mentality has been solid which is a testament to his character.
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