Arsenal have completed the loan signing of Southampton full-back Cedric Soares.

The Portugal international has joined the Gunners until the end of the season for a loan fee of around £1million.

Cedric, whose contract at Southampton expires in the summer, will use the rest of the season to impress at Arsenal ahead of a possible permanent move to Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are covering the full cost of Cedric’s £65,000-a-week wages and he will provide competition for current right-back Hector Bellerin.

Cedric’s arrival completes a successful week in the transfer market for Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta, who on Wednesday brought in defender Pablo Mari on loan from Flamengo.

Technical director Edu said: “Cedric is a defender with good experience of the Premier League, and of course at international level.

“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.”

Cedric will be unable to make his Arsenal debut against Burnley on Sunday as he is currently recovering from injury, while fellow new signing Mari is unlikely to feature given he has not played since December.

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Arsenal, however, are boosted by the return of captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and defender David Luiz from suspension.

Calum Chambers (knee), Kieran Tierney (shoulder) and Reiss Nelson (hamstring) are all out, but Sead Kolasinac and Shkodran Mustafi could make the squad.

Kolasinac has been struggling with a thigh strain, while Mustafi suffered an ankle strain during Monday night’s win at Bournemouth, but both are being assessed and have a chance of featuring against Burnley.