The Arsenal youngster that will keep Cedric Soares at the club

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Arsenal fans always need a scapegoat.

For as long as I remember, there has always been a player in the team who everyone grumbles about. Who they blame for defeats regardless of if they were at thought.

This is not a new thing. But has been going on for decades. Pre-social media attention seeking. And even when we are successful.

The baton seems to have been passed from Granit Xhaka to Cedric Soares in recent weeks.

People have been going a bit OTT about the quality of our 2nd choice right back – everytime he plays, people moan. They say he will cost us. Some go as far as saying they “won’t bother watching the game” – although this is probably just social media postering.

Cedric being the scapegoat was highlighted in Watford’s first goal last Sunday.

Watford engineered an overload on our left hand side with Emmanuel Dennis drifting out to create a 3 on 2 in Watford’s favour. It was a good move which gave them the space to whip in a cross, which was actually a poor cross.

The ball in went behind Cucho Hernandez, who twisted his body to score a stunning overhead kick.

Rather than respect a brilliant piece of play by Watford, and by Cucho Hernandez, fans needed someone to blame.

The finger of blame was pointed at Cedric, who fans blamed for not being tight enough and slow to react.

Sometimes you need to applaud the opponent rather than go out of your way to blame someone in your team.

People have listed Cedric as deadwood, but this is unfair consider he is a back-up right back. He was a cheap transfer, is not on high wages, and actually does do a job.

Those who are calling for Cedric to be shipped out this summer and a new right back purchased will be in for a shock. He will likely remain at the club for the rest of his contract – set to expire in 2 years.

The reason for this is a young man currently out on loan – Brooke Norton-Cuffy.

Norton-Cuffy joined Lincoln City on loan in January and has quickly established himself as the League One’s side first choice right back – starting their last 6 games.

The young Englishman is on the fast track. He was loaned out just a few days after turning 18, highlighting that those at Arsenal already felt he was ready for senior football.

He will follow a tried and tested path. 6 months on loan in League One, and then next season he will likely join a Championship or Premier League team.

In 18 months time, he will be a teenager with close to 50 senior games under his belt. If all goes well he will then be promoted to Arsenal’s first team.

At this point Cedric will have 12 months left on his contract.

Arsenal will keep Cedric around giving Mikel Arteta the choice between youth or experience to back up Takehiro Tomiyasu depending on opponent.

If Norton-Cuffy then continues his progress, we can expect him to be competing with Tomiyasu for a first team spot from 2024 onwards.

Of course, there is a lot of ifs, buts and maybes over the next 2 and a half years, and he might not progress how the club expects him to.

But the knowledge of him coming through is enough to stop Arsenal going out into the transfer market this summer to replace Cedric.

Why spend money on a back-up right back, to replace someone who does an adequate job there, when you know you have got such a talented kid coming through who can take that position in 18 months.

Better to keep Cedric, funnel those funds into other positions, and continue developing Norton-Cuffy.

Brooke Norton-Cuffy is one to watch.

Keenos

Midfield duo would be a ‘huge upgrade’ for Arsenal

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When I see discussions as to what midfielder we should buy, a key part of the discussion is often missed.

Arsenal potentially need 2 central midfielder, not 1.

The discussion always surrounds “who should replace Granit Xhaka” but very few talk about Mohamed Elneny leaving us this summer.

The Egyptians contract expires in June; and whilst he has played just 10 games this season, he does need to be replaced.

Our lack of European football this season (and the early exit in the FA Cup) has meant me have not needed to rest and rotate as much as previous seasons – Elneny played 41 times for us in 2020/21 (when we were in Europe).

Edu has done a fantastic job in the last 12 months stripping the squad of those players Mikel Arteta did not want. But with European (and potentially Champions League) football back on the agenda for next season, we need to return to having 2 players for every position.

In midfield, this means we need 4 options.

Elneny leaving results in us having 3 central midfielders – Xhaka, Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga. If Xhaka also departs, it leaves us two short.

Some might point to Miguel Azeez and Charlie Patino as options, but realistically they are not ready.

Azeez was OK on loan at Portsmouth in League One prior to Arsenal recalling him. Next season he will reijoin the first team squad on a permanent basis, but should only be considered as 5th in the pecking order.

Patino is clearly a talent, but he was promoted to early when we face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup. He is still just 18 and is not ready – either physically or mentally – for senior football.

What would make a lot of sense is for Patino to be training week in, week out with our senior boys in the first half of the season; whilst also starting in the League Cup.

A loan deal in the second half of the season would give him the first team football he needs to continue his development.

We also have Ainsley Maitland-Niles returning from Italy. But I think it is time we said goodbye to him permanently in the summer.

The club have turned down a few good offers from Leicester City and Wolves over the last couple of seasons. He turns 25-years-old in August and his value is now plummeting.

He will never make it in the Arsenal first team so we now need to cash in and move on.

The recent quotes from Xhaka indicate that it might not be a forgone conclusion that he departs. If he does not, it will be just one central midfielder added to the squad. But if he is off we need the two.

Xhaka is a defensively minded midfielder, so if he stays we need someone more attacking. Someone like Youri Tielemans who can play central midfield, but also play further forward to provide cover and competition for Martin Odergaard.

If Xhaka departs, we then need to replace him with a like-for-like.

Ruben Neves is the obvious choice, but will be expensive.

If Xhaka does leave, it will be for fairly cheap, so signing an expensive replacement will not make financial sense.

Napoli’s Fabian Ruiz is apparently available for just £16million. He would replicate everything positive that Xhaka brings to a football pitch.

Ruiz as a defensive option, Tielemans as an attacking.

Squad depth is what is needed next year whilst we fight on 4 fronts.

Adding Ruiz and Tielemands at the expense of Xhaka and Elneny will be a huge upgrade.

Keenos

Is there anyone left not backing Arteta and ‘the process’

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If you are now not fully behind the Arteta project, then maybe it is time to get a different hobby?

In 4th place, with games in hand, we must be now favourites to finish top 4.

This who still criticise Arteta (and Edu) do so from their computer screens. They do so due to an agenda.

These people are not Arsenal fans. They hate Arsenal. They need an unsuccessful Arsenal in their life.

Arsenal playing well and winning is the stuff of nightmares for them. It means they do not get the attention they crave whilst they spread their hatred from their mums basement – or a run down apartment in the Spanish equivalent of Great Yarmouth.

Top 4 is now in Arsenal and Arteta’s hands.

Arteta has bombed out the players who were not willing to go to war for him, and the side is looking better for it.

The team morale is at the highest we have seen for years. And fans and players have not been as close for decades.

One reason some do not back Arteta is because he dumped Mesut Ozil. And then Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. But Arsenal are better without the pair.

Sunday’s goal scorers were Martin Odergaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. All 3, alongside Emile Smith Rowe, have grown this season under Arteta.

Whilst his detractors moan that “Arteta can’t develop youth”, the Spaniard has consistently named the youngest XI in the league this year. And his 4 youthful attacking players should now be considered amongst the best young players in Europe.

They cry because Guendouzi was dumped for his poor attitude. The Frenchman has performed well in France, but let’s see how he reacts when the demands of playing at a higher level come calling again.

The other one we keep hearing people mention is William Saliba.

Saliba has benefited hugely from his first full season of top flight football. It is important to remember he does not turn 21 until later this month.

He will have an important role to play next season providing quality cover and competition to both Ben White and Gabriel.

“Arteta hates young players” was always a myth. Building a team of young, hungry players was always a big part of the process.

So we are in the race for top 4. Things have been made easier with no Europe and an early FA Cup exit. But it is time to give Arteta the credit he deserves.

If you are not backing Arteta and the process for the rest of the season, then you are merely showing that you do not desire a successful Arsenal.

Keenos