According to the very reliable David Ornstein of The Athletic, Arsenal are on the verge of securing their second signing of this January transfer window in the shape of Cedric Soares. The Southampton right-back could move to Emirates within 24 hours, in a short-term loan deal, though the Gunners would still pay £5 million as well as provide full salary cover. It will take them in pole position to secure his services permanently when his contract expires in the summer.
In this article, we will discuss why Soares’ potential move to Arsenal could make sense for the north London giants.
A reliable alternative
Ever since the decline of Mathieu Debuchy, Arsenal have always lacked a reliable alternative at right-back. While Hector Bellerin has been the primary right-back for the Gunners over the past few years, the Spaniard has suffered from a host of injuries. As a result, Arsenal have always had to rely on an alternative.
Currently, they had Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who has performed well under Mikel Arteta. But, his lack of defensive prowess coupled with his sloppy passing, could become problematic. And that’s where Soares could come into the fray.
The Portuguese international can provide additional cover for Bellerin, who has now returned to full fitness after missing a chunk of the season due to injury. The presence of these two individuals should put an end to Arsenal’s problems at right-back, giving Arteta one less issue to worry about.
Soares could be an ideal tactical fit
What makes Soares such an appealing target for Arsenal is his work-ethic. Much like Bellerin, he can cover a lot of ground while his ability to read the game helps him cut out passes on the far side. This makes him a tactically astute fullback, which is quite rare in the Premier League.
Moreover, the Portuguese is proficient from set-pieces. So essentially, he can provide dangerous crosses from the flanks, thus improving Arsenal’s overall chance creation in the final third. These aspects make Soares an upgrade over Maitland-Niles and quite plainly, an ideal tactical fit for Arteta’s system.
An experienced individual
Unlike the likes of Max Aarons, Soares has a considerable amount of experience at the highest level of football. The 28-year-old, since joining Southampton in 2015, has notched up 120 Premier League appearances. Meanwhile, he had also won 33 caps for the Portuguese national team.
This experience at the highest stage of football could help him settle in quickly at Arsenal, thus making him a less risky target for the Gunners.
