Arsenal saw a large exodus of deadwood players from the squad. That list includes the likes of Nicolas Pepe, Rob Holding, Kieran Tierney, Nuno Tavares and Pablo Mari. One player in particular who was linked with a move away all summer was defender Cedric Soares. The Portuguese player was expected to leave this summer as he is no longer in Mikel Arteta’s plans. Despite this, the player remains at the club, and now Arteta has been forced to make a big decision with the player.
Cedric Soares makes Arsenal’s Champions Squad list
Arsenal announce their UCL squad list officially presented tonight 🔴⚪️📑
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 11, 2023
↪️ Cedric Soares included as he’ll be part of the team.
↩️ Jurrien Timber currently excluded as he’s injured but he can/will be added in January as list can be updated. pic.twitter.com/RsO5R1dpGj
That’s right, Cedric Soares looks to be back in the mix with the first-team squad despite being an afterthought with the club during their pre-season tour in the United States. Soares has yet to feature in the squad for Arsenal in the Premier League. He spent last season on loan at Fulham in the Premier League, making eight appearances with the cottages before making a quick return to his London club.
Cedric Soares originally joined Arsenal on loan for the second half of the 19/20 season from Southampton. He then signed as a free agent with the Gunners and, during the 21/22 season, was a semi-regular starter for Arsenal. Since the club’s massive overhaul in incomings and outgoings, Cedric Soares has found himself as not even the backup but the backup to the backup right-back. With Thomas Partey now suiting up as right-back, the argument could be made that Soares is now the fourth choice at a single position.
Despite all of this, Cedric Soares has still found himself on the club’s Champions League squad. The player hopes to integrate himself back into the team and perhaps pick up minutes. It’s been a bit of a bizarre summer for the player, so he will surely be glad to know he is back in the plans of Arsenal, at least for the time being.