LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 23: Albert Sambi Lokonga, Gabriel Martinelli and Kieran Tierney of Arsenal look dejected following the Premier League match between Arsenal and Burnley at Emirates Stadium on January 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Kaya Kaynak reports that Cedric Soares has now fully recovered from the injury that saw him miss the north London derby, and Arsenal are planning to call the right-back up to the squad again on Thursday.
Having not featured for Arsenal yet this season, Cedric is reportedly determined to get his first minutes on Thursday and return to his best.
One key benefit of Cedric’s return would be the option to rest all of Arsenal’s Premier League back-four.
Oleksandr Zinchenko could drop out for Kieran Tierney, and William Saliba for Rob Holding. Then if Cedric is available to replace Ben White at right-back, Takehiro Tomiyasu could play left-centre-back in place of Gabriel Magalhaes.
Though Tomiyasu has largely played at right-back for Arsenal since signing, he often plays at left-centre-back for Japan, and that’s really the only way that Gabriel, Saliba, and White can all get a rest.
Against FC Zurich, with Cedric unfit, Gabriel had to play the full 90 minutes. As a result, he hasn’t had a minute of rest this season so far.
So even though he’s probably Arsenal’s third-choice right-back at the moment, Cedric’s return could yet prove to be a boost for the squad in a packed month of fixtures.
