One glaring issue now stands out in Edu and Arteta’s January transfer plans at Arsenal

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Arsenal defender Cedric Soares looks set to depart the club imminently, but despite hardly featuring, Mikel Arteta would need to replace him.

The 32-year-old has made just one start all season, which came in the final Champions League group game against PSV Eindhoven.

Recent reports have indicated that Cedric is set to join Besiktas, and Arsenal fans have been left frustrated that the club have been unable to earn a fee for a departing player yet again.

Arsenal are already short of options in defence. Jurrien Timber is injured, Takehiro Tomiyasu is away at the Asia Cup, Oleksandr Zinchenko is an injury doubt and Ben White has been carrying a problem for over two months.

Arsenal will need to replace Cedric Soares

Despite his lack of game time, Arsenal will need to replace Cedric once he leaves in this transfer window.

In a similar manner to the way Calum Chambers departed in 2022 for free ahead of his contract expiry, Cedric’s exit will free up some space on the wage bill, but Arsenal will not earn a penny and will lose depth at the back.

Arteta used Cedric ahead of youngster Reuell Walters to much frustration, and the Portuguese defender is currently the only emergency cover Arsenal have at right-back.

Arsenal were already short of options, meaning Cedric has had to appear on the bench, but losing him without a replacement, and no financial gain, would be a baffling move from Edu Gaspar.

Cedric’s replacement can be an internal one

Cedric is unlikely to start any Premier League or Champions League game should he stay, but he could still be useful depth.

Given White’s fitness problems, he could have been a substitute option to bring on for the Englishman when Arsenal have a comfortable lead in games.

The fact that Walters was not trusted ahead of him all this time, perhaps indicates that Arteta felt the talented teenager was not yet ready.

However, if Arsenal do not bring anyone else in during the window, then Walters will have to be trusted on the bench, and must be given chances as a substitute in case he is eventually needed in the back line.

If Walters is being eyed as Cedric’s internal replacement, then whilst it would be a risk, it could mean he is now set to appear more, and fans would prefer to see a talented Hale End prodigy play than a veteran in Cedric.