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Dean Ashton hails Arteta for ‘getting a tune’ out of Arsenal player others would’ve shown the door

Giuseppe Labellarte

Tue 15 March 2022 19:15, UK

Dean Ashton has lauded Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta for “getting a tune out of” Cedric Soares.

The pundit was singing the Gunners manager’s praises in wake of their latest Premier League victory.

Arsenal are in amazing form right now, having won their last five Premier League games in a row.

The Gunners also have nine wins from their last 11 top-flight matches, and have conceded just seven goals in that run.

Arsenal are now back in the Premier League’s top four and looking good for Champions League qualification.

Arteta is now rightly earning praise after finding himself under criticism many times since taking the Gunners reins.

Ashton, speaking to Adrian Durham, stuck up for Arteta after the latter appeared to play down Arsenal’s achievements.

Durham claimed the Gunners have been fortunate on the injury front this year.

Ashton replied by commenting on the absences of Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu, with Arsenal having coped.

“They’ve had the odd injury,” he said. “Tierney wasn’t available for a long period, part of the season.

“Tomiyasu’s missing at the moment so he (Arteta) is playing Cedric.

“And getting a tune out of Cedric when most people would’ve said ‘well, he needs to be out the door’.”

“Every week, every day, I will be there knocking”

Cedric deserves huge credit for his perseverance at Arsenal.

The 30-year-old joined the Gunners in 2020, initially on loan from Southampton in January.

Arsenal then signed him permanently in the summer, but he has often struggled for playing time under Arteta.

But last November, Cedric told that he is a player eager to “fight and win” a place in the team.

“I’m there fighting,” said the man.

“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.

“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.”