Arsenal bolstered their claims for a top-four finish in the Premier League this season with a 2-1 victory over Brentford on Saturday afternoon.
England duo Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, risen from the Hale End academy, lifted the Gunners to a crucial three points in the race for a place in next season’s Champions League.
The latter ran at the Bees’ backline before firing a ferocious strike past former transfer target David Raya, before his fellow academy gem capped off a fine afternoon after he slotted home with 11 minutes to spare.
Mikel Arteta’s outfit were able to enact revenge on the west Londoners for their win on the opening night of the season.
Arsenal fans, who was your MOTM vs Brentford?
SAKA
ESR
CEDRIC
GABRIEL
It was certainly the Three Lions pairing that stole the headlines at the Emirates Stadium, with Evening Standard reporter Simon Collings grading Saka as his ‘star man’ on the day.
But there was another Arsenal starter who was arguably the unsung hero in this pleasing victory, that being Cedric Soares, who the Spanish head coach kept the faith in at right-back despite Takehiro Tomiyasu’s return to training this week.
‘The right-back had a good game against Wolves last week and he followed it up with a solid display here. Didn’t really put a foot wrong,’ wrote the aforementioned journalist in his post-match ratings column.
Indeed, the Portuguese may have made it hard for Arteta to bring Tomiyasu straight back into the fold.
Not only did the former Southampton star, who is now valued at just £4.5m, do his job defensively, where he managed two interceptions, two clearances and one block up against the threat posed by Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbueno and wing-back Rico Henry, but he too was a creative influence in the final third.
Whilst he wasn’t able to register a direct goal contribution, he certainly came close.
Also per SofaScore, the 30-year-old provided two key passes, which was more than Smith Rowe and Saka combined, as well as registering the most touches of any Gunners player (99), suggesting that he was a main focal point for the side.
Cedric, who reportedly earns around £75k-per-week at London Colney, was dubbed “brilliant” for his display by the Telegraph’s Sam Dean.
On the above evidence, the Portugal international deserves plenty of plaudits alongside the goalscoring sensations of Saka and Smith Rowe.
AND in other news, Forget White and Tomiyasu: Arteta’s “genius” has been Arsenal’s signing of the season…