Cedric Soares is likely to miss out on Arsenal’s trip to face FC Zurich on Thursday after picking up a minor knock, according to a report.

Cedric Soares of Arsenal during the warm-up before Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London - 23rd April 2021. Copyright: Holly Allison / TPI / Shutterstock
Cedric Soares of Arsenal during the warm-up before the Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London on 23rd April 2021. Copyright: Holly Allison / TPI / Shutterstock

Kaya Kaynak reports that Cedric Soares is unlikely to be involved for Arsenal against FC Zurich on Thursday night due to a minor knock.

The right-back is currently working on his recovery and wasn’t involved in training on Wednesday.

Arsenal have options at right-back, with Ben White starting most games at the moment and Takehiro Tomiyasu on the bench. But the problem with Cedric’s absence is that it prevents Tomiyasu from providing cover at centre-back.

With Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, and White starting pretty much every league game, it would be good to have someone else coming into the defence on Thursday.

If Tomiyasu is needed at right-back, that only really leaves Rob Holding at centre-back. At least one of the Premier League starters will likely need to keep their place in Europe.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Rob Holding of Arsenal applauds their fans after the final whistle of the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal at London Stadium on May 01, 2022. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Rob Holding of Arsenal applauds their fans after the final whistle of the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal at London Stadium on May 01, 2022. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Cedric and Holding only have a couple of minutes of competitive football between them so far this season, so Thursday would have been a good opportunity to get them both going.

Instead, it looks like Holding will be accompanied by one of the first-team regulars.