I can confirm trouble with HDMI eARC/ CEC on a 65" LG OLED65B9PLA.
I have the latest firmware updates, HDMI CEC permanently on.
Using with a Canton Smart Sounddeck 100 (2021, 2nd gen.), which receives also the latest firmware updates, supporting HMDI eARC, using a quality HDMI eARC cable to connect it with the TV eARC connector.
Both devices a instantly connected to the internet by an Ethernet cable. I tries several HDMI cables declared compatible with HDMI eARC.
The problem:
When I turn on the TV set the sounddeck doesn't turn on, or it turns on without sound or just with sound from the internal speakers, or it turns on with sound but setting the volume on the TV's remote is disabled.
I found out that most time, when I first turn on the sounddeck separately before turning on the TV the trouble does not appear. The same if I just put the sounddeck off and immediately on, the connection gets fully established.
I'd expect the TV waiting for the sounddeck coming up and connecting properly with all HDMI CEC options.
What I believe is the LG TV doesn't wait long for the sounddeck booting and answering the HDMI handshake and gives up the connection to early. Very probably a timeout from the LG side.
It takes some seconds for the sounddeck to boot when HDMI CEC gets active on the cable, altough it listens to it in standby mode.
Other sound sources to the sounddeck don't show this trouble, including Chromecast, DVD player, media player, etc. All they play fine when the sounddeck wakes up from sleeping and fully control it.