Arsenal receive welcome summer transfer news

With such a lengthy break in the fixture schedule for Arsenal the hope is that Mikel Arteta can welcome Takehiro Tomiyasu back into the fold in time for Wolves.

The Japanese international is the stabliser in the team that not only contributes to the solid defensive foundation, but also plays a pivotal role in how Arsenal build up. He s physically, positionally and technically proficient, two-footed and invaluable in the air.

Without him Arsenal are not the same team. Without him they are not remotely as solid or balanced. Tomiyasu is a cornerstone of the side now.

So, when he’s not available, the difference is telling.

Arsenal receive welcome summer transfer news with Cedric Soares open to a move away from the club at the end of the season

But while him not being in the team is a big loss, part of the reason the level drops so drastically is the man who replaces him.

One of the worst deals Arsenal have done in many years was the purchase of Cedric Soares on a whopping four-year contract. It’s incredible what you can wrangle for yourself when your agent is best buddies with a club’s technical director.

Not only did Arsenal sign Cedric when he was injured, the loan move from January until the summer was said to total £5m, a figure that included a loan fee, salary, and other savings. It wasn’t clear what additional agent fees would amount to.

Cedric didn’t kick a ball until July – he actually scored on his debut – and when the season finished he penned that long contract despite being well past his best and entering his 30’s. Across his whole time at Arsenal he’s played 38 matches, precious few of which are memorable for the right reasons.

One of the dreadful early Arteta-era signings, he’s surely high up on the list for hopeful departees. However, despite interest in him from Turkish clubs and La Liga, the talk has generally been that Cedric isn’t keen on leaving Arsenal. Why would he be?

So, fortunately, football.london report that the defender is not closing any doors on a potential exit in the summer, which will come as welcome relief to a large contingent of the fanbase (pretty much everyone) who have not been especially smitten with Cedric since he joined the club.

It was a stupid deal at the time and it remains a stupid deal.

What the big issue is for Arsenal is finding someone to take Cedric on. It’s reassuring to know he’s open to a move, one that will get Kia Joorabchian out of the club, but someone has to be willing to sign him and get him out of this comfortable retirement contract he’s sitting on.

He’s always come across as a nice character and a dedicated trainer, but he’s another link to a past Arsenal are trying to wriggle away from and the sooner he’s gone the better.