'I was one of Mikel Arteta's first Arsenal signings – now I'm stuck in limbo as a free agent'
'I was one of Mikel Arteta's first Arsenal signings – now I'm stuck in limbo as a free agent'
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Almost five years after he was one of Mikel Arteta's very first signings for Arsenal, Cedric Soares is without a club and has been for seven months. The right-back joined the Gunners on loan in January 2020 from Southampton before the move was made permanent that summer.
The first six months of his career in north London was marred by injury as he made just five league appearances in a season Arsenal went on to win the FA Cup – the only silverware Arteta has so far won in his managerial career. While he made only 64 appearances in the entirety of his Arsenal career, the former Portugal international was a leader in what was an extremely young dressing room that were led by a young manager.
As he remained an influential figure behind the scenes, the signings of Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu severely decreased his minutes on the pitch with Arsenal continually improving under Arteta. He eventually left the club last summer at the expiration of his contract but has yet to join another club. Still only 33 years of age, the Germany-born defender admits he has no desire to hang up his boots but revealed clubs have had doubts about his ability to perform given his lack of action during his four-year stint in north London.
"Obviously, my idea is to try to finish the badges while I’m playing, but my main target is still to play," he told The Athletic. "I think it’s too early now to retire. I’m fit and, thank God, I have had no serious injuries. When you have not played, the other teams have doubts. 'How is he? Is he playing good? Why didn’t he play?'.
