Arsenal: Cedric Soares signing curious, not stupid

Arsenal are reportedly close to signing Cedric Soares on a six-month loan. It is a curious and unexpected deal, but not an entirely stupid one.

Earlier in the January transfer window, Arsenal were strongly linked with a loan move for Paris Saint-Germain left-back Layvin Kurzawa. The thinking was clear: the Gunners needed a left-back with Kieran Tierney dealing with a dislocated shoulder and Sead Kolasinac out until mid-February and Kurzawa represented a cheap, quick, temporary solution to the problem.

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The issue was that Kurzawa wasn’t actually that cheap, largely because of his extortionate PSG-inflated wages, could only play on the left side, and was not entirely needed thanks to the excellent performances of Bukayo Saka. But the need for full-back depth, on both sides of the defence, remained.

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And so, Arsenal have been forced into the transfer market once again, this time turning to 28-year-old Southampton defender Cedric Soares. As widely reported on Wednesday afternoon, Cedric is set to make the north London switch on a six-month loan deal prior to the expiration of his Saints contract. The deal will reportedly cost around £5 million including wages and will also provide the north London outfit with a chance to sign Cedric to a new contract in the summer should they want to extend his stay beyond the end of his loan period.

It is certainly a name from out of the blue. I am not sure many fans would have guessed that the club won sign a Southampton defender at the start of the January window. And yet, despite its curiosity, there is a degree of sensibility to the deal that does not make it completely ridiculous.

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First and foremost, Arsenal need full-back help. Hector Bellerin’s fitness has been turbulent throughout his career and is still returning from an ACL tear. Kolasinac and Tierney are both currently while injured, while Saka and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are not natural full-backs, Arteta clearly having other desires with the pair, especially the latter.

Cedric is a natural right-back but he has also played at left-back. Offering depth at both positions is vital given the present lack of options at both positions. His introduction as the premier back-up right-back also frees up Maitland-Niles to play in central midfield, a position that might well end up being his long-term home. Arteta has played Maitland-Niles in a hybrid right-back role that looks to exploit his natural fit in central midfield. Perhaps the 22-year-old will now be used as a midfielder outright.

The Southampton defender is also extremely cheap. For only £5 million, which is peanuts for Arsenal, despite their financial problems, he provides crucial depth at two positions. That will make a vital difference during the closing stretch of the season, especially if the top-four race is to be reignited.

Is signing Cedric on a six-month loan a curveball move? Yes. Is it a little curious and entirely unexpected? Absolutely. But that does not make it stupid. In fact, there is a decent number of reasons to think it is rather smart.