98 touches, 16 crosses, 2 key passes; £75k-a-week Arsenal man is exactly what Arteta wants in a player

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Arsenal boosted their hopes of sealing a Premier League top-four place after beating Brentford 2-1 on Saturday.

The Gunners also made amends for their shock 2-0 defeat on the opening day of the 2021-22 season.

Arsenal hit the ground running against their fellow Londoners at the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta’s charges registered 16 shots – a record for a side in the first half in the Premier League this season.

However, just two were on target, while Alexandre Lacazette had an effort ruled out for a narrow offside call.

Arsenal didn’t let their heads drop and, early on in the second half, finally broke the deadlock.

On 48 minutes, Emile Smith Rowe skipped between two defenders and slotted into the bottom corner.

It was the Hale End star’s 10th goal of the season in all competitions.

Fellow Arsenal academy graduate Bukayo Saka then doubled the Gunners’ lead in the 79th minute.

The 20-year-old finished off a superb Arsenal counter-attack with an effort that went in off the inside of the post.

Although Christian Norgaard scrambled home in injury time, it proved too little too late for Brentford.

Most of Arsenal’s players impressed on the day, but one in particular deserves a shout-out – Cedric Soares.

“I will not make it easier. Never.”

Arteta opted to rest Takehiro Tomiyasu, who had just come back from an injury.

Cedric was making only his fourth league start of the campaign on Saturday.

And he took his chance superbly, putting in a great display on the right side of defence.

The £75,000-a-week ace clocked up some impressive stats on the day (Whoscored).

Cedric took 98 touches, made 66 passes with 87.9% accuracy, and weighed in with a staggering 16 crosses.

The 30-year-old also delivered five accurate long balls, had one shot, and made two key passes.

In addition, Cedric won two aerial duels, and made two interceptions and two clearances.

A few months ago, the Portugal international spoke with ESPN about his desire to fight and succeed.

Cedric said: “I’m there fighting.

“Every week, every day, I will be there knocking [on the door], making [Arteta] a problem – in a good way – that he needs to think who to put on the pitch.

“Of course, it is his decision. I respect that and he knows that.

“But I will not make it easier. Never. This is how I grow up in my career: fight and win.”

On Saturday, Cedric proved this in style – exactly what Arteta wants in a player.