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Mikel Arteta includes Arsenal defender in UCL squad after failing to sell him

By Evan Curnew

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 3, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 3, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /
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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

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.

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