Mikel Arteta has been warned about his misuse of Cedric Soares, with him supposedly causing imbalance to Arsenal’s back four.
The former Southampton fullback has been used at left-back in recent weeks following the loss of Kieran Tierney to injury, with Sead Kolasinac and Ainsley Maitland-Niles both having left the club in January.
The Gunners have won just one of their last four Premier League matches since they opted use Cedric in the role, and a former left-back from Arsenal in Armand Traore is not a fan.
“I am against it,” Traore told Astro Supersport‘s coverage after Arsenal’s loss to Aston Villa. “I would have liked to see a left-back coming in for cover for Kieran Tierney because I believe that Kieran Tierney has got a lot of injury issues at the moment, so the fact that they didn’t was a bit disappointing.
“I don’t like seeing Cedric at left-back. He is a right-footed player, he creates imbalance within the back-four within the whole squad, I believe.”
We are believed to have opted against an attempt to sign one of Patrick Van Aanholt and Ryan Bertrand in the winter window, who were both inside their final six months of their current playing contracts, and you’d think were available for cut-price deals.
What makes it even more interesting is that the manager is supposedly keen on having a left-footed option in one of his centre-back roles, one which you’d think would be more important would be to have a left-footer in left back at least.
Whether we simply failed in our bid to bring in a left-back, or decided we would suffer through is anybody’s guess, but our results of late definitely need improving one way or another.
Do we think Arteta would be happy with his current options in defence?
Patrick
While it’s not an ideal situation, I wonder if we would be better off going with a back three when Tierney is out – Holding/Luiz/Gabriel with Chambers and Mari backing up..
Unfortunately that would probably mean either Pepe or Saka as left wing back with Bellerin or Soares on the other side.
It is a tough one but our best left back before Tierney was Saka. Arteta does seem to like an imbalance in the team. I dont.
Arteta is an idiot letting 2 players leave without nailing down back up left back. Just another in a long list of mismanagement, Ozil, Guendouzi, Luiz, Saliba, Balogun. Tactics that nulify Aubamayang. Failure to motivate leading to repeatedly poor 1st half’s
When Saka was our left back he was rated as third best in the league. If Tierney is not back play Saka there and Martinelli at right wing, simples.
Perfect!
What it we bought back up and he isnt available, lets make do with what we have and move on. city played phibian deph in leftback for almost a season, Cedric isnt doing poorly i wouldnt agree to us bringing back Saka who is improving well on the right
Fabian delph is at least left footed.
A right footed player causes the imbalance being talked about
Squad lacks substitute, may be Xhaka, Gabriel or Mari can do better if any if them can run and cross.
I would check academy players if I could or keep Cedric, he only made a mistake against Villa.
Also, I agree with Declan, Saka at the left, Martenilli start taking role.
The problem is we lake accuracy in our passing the ball. We don’t have starting 11 for now it’s a shame.