It was a tale of two right-backs.
On one side of the pitch, a sprightly young talent only scratching the surface of his enormous potential. On the other, a man who turned 30 a few months earlier and, as he was ran ragged by second-tier opposition, puffing, panting and toiling on the City Ground turf, must have become just that little bit more aware of his own mortality.
According to Goal, Arsenal have identified Djed Spence – a £15 million-rated, London-born full-back with the world at his feet – as one of their main summer targets.
Their interest, it seems, was piqued by Spence’s coming-of-age performance in that FA Cup third round defeat to Nottingham Forest at a rousing, pulsating City Ground.
The Middlesbrough loanee was even more impressive, believe it or not, as Forest’s giant-killing streak continued against Leicester City on Sunday.
The report adds that Arsenal see Spence as someone capable of providing cover for Takehiro Tomiyasu on the right-hand side. A more adventurous, attack-minded alternative perhaps. One capable of slotting into Mikel Arteta’s starting XI when the Gunners boss needs more thrust from the wide areas.
But if Spence is seen as competition for Tomiyasu, what does the former Fulham youngster mean for Cedric Soares?
A replacement, perhaps? An upgrade, even?
Is Cedric Soares about to be replaced at Arsenal?
Cedirc’s less-than-impressive performance away to Forest – coupled with Spence’s swashbuckling performance on the opposite flank – didn’t exactly reflect well on a man who’s played just 32 minutes of Premier League football since August’s chastening 5-0 hammering at the hands of Manchester City.
“We know Cedric isn’t the answer,” former striker Kevin Campbell told Highbury Squad after Lewis Grabban’s late winner consigned Arsenal to an early FA Cup exit.
“They (Cedric, Calum Chambers and Eddie Nketiah) just aren’t good enough. We have to invest in our squad. We need a stronger squad.”
If Cedric is already finding game-time hard to come by under Mikel Arteta, then the former Southampton and Sporting Lisbon man will have some serious thinking to do over the coming months.
Especially if, as expected, Arsenal step up their interest in the rapidly-improving, much-admired Spence.
According to Football London, Cedric hasn’t ruled out the prospect of a move away from North London in the summer transfer window. One suspects that, if an offer comes his way, Arsenal won’t put up too much of a fight.
The experienced Portugal international was never intended to be a long-term solution at Arsenal anyway. He was brought in to do a job, and that’s exactly what he’s done. No more, no less.
If Arsenal are to take the next step in their development, however, Cedric, like Chambers, like Nketiah – like Pablo Mari, Lucas Torreira and Ainsley Maitland-Niles – must be sacrificed for the greater good.
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