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£75k-a-week Arsenal player has shown he’s the fighter Arteta needs after exciting news – TBR View
In November last year, Arsenal defender Cedric Soares appeared a forgotten player for both club and country.
The 30-year-old had become a perennial benchwarmer at the Emirates, without a Premier League start since August.
Cedric had also fallen out of contention for Portugal and once again missed out on their World Cup qualifying squad.
During the November international break, conducted an interview with the right-back.
Far from sulking or accepting his fate, Cedric made it very clear he intented to win his place back for club and country.
“Last year, I fought a lot to come in the team,” said the Gunners and Portugal ace.
“Not just one training, two training sessions. No, I was every week – and you can ask the manager as well -very consistent.
“He knows, and that’s why I ended up winning a space in the team.
“I’m there fighting. Every week, every day, I will be there knocking [on the door], making him a problem – in a good way – that he needs to think who to put on the pitch.
“Of course, it is his decision. I respect that and he knows that. But I will not make it easier. Never.
“This is how I grow up in my career: fight and win.
“And also [the Portugal] national team, it wasn’t straightforward to play but I ended up winning my space. It is like this.
“Some players just have it a little bit easier. With me, I know I always had to fight a little bit extra to get it and in the end I was there.”
Make or break time for Arsenal and Portugal
Fast-forward four months, and Cedric has achieved exactly what he set out to do.
With Takehiro Tomiyasu out of action, the man has won – and kept – his place in Mikel Arteta’s XI.
Although the 23-year-old could be back against Villa, the Arsenal boss won’t be in too much a rush to throw him in.
And this week, Cedric also fought his way back into the Portugal fold for some incredibly important games.
Portugal will host Turkey in a World Cup play-off semi-final on March 24.
The winner of that clash takes on either Italy or North Macedonia five days later for a place in Qatar.
On Thursday, the Portugal team , and Cedric made the cut.
Admittedly, Nelson Semedo’s absence is a contributing factor.
Nonetheless, Fernando Santos will have been impressed with how Cedric has been doing and, sure enough, rewarded him with a place in the squad.
Cedric’s attitude and fighting spirit have helped him return to the fold for Arsenal and Portugal.
This is just what Arteta and Santos need, with the Gunners and the Euro 2016 winners both set for a crucial end to the season.