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Arsenal have signed defender Cedric Soares on loan from Southampton until the end of the season.
The 28-year-old was part of Portugal’s Euro 2016-winning squad and had been a regular starter under Ralph Hasenhuttl at Southampton until he sustained a foot injury at the start of January.
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The injury to Soares means that he may not be available for selection for another three weeks.
Soares joins new recruit Pablo Mari as a possible solution to Arsenal’s defensive crisis with the club managing just four clean sheets in the Premier League this season.
“Cedric is a defender with good experience of the Premier League, and of course at international level,” Arsenal technical director Edu said. “He is another strong addition to our defensive unit who will provide our squad with quality.
“I know he is a player who plays with absolute full commitment and energy. We are all looking forward to going into the last stages of the season with Cedric as part of the club.”
The issues in defence have been prompted by injuries to key players including Calum Chambers, Kieran Tierney, Sead Kolasinac and Shkodran Mustafi.
Last January, Soares joined Inter Milan on loan. The Italian club also had the option of buying the defender which they declined to take up.