Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta says they are unlikely to make further additions to their squad but hinted they are still in the market. On Friday morning Arsenal announced the loan signing of Portuguese defender Cedric Soares from Southampton.
The versatile defender follows Spanish defender Pablo Mari in moving to the Emirates this month as Arteta achieved his aim of strengthening the defence.
With the transfer window closing at 11pm in the UK, Arsenal are running out of time to complete their third signing of the month.
But when asked if fans can expect any more business before the deadline, Arteta said: ”I will say no, but you never know.”
Soares was allowed to leave Southampton after they brought in Kyle Walker-Peters from Tottenham.
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And following confirmation of his loan move, Soares revealed he nearly moved to the Emirates a few years ago.
“It has been a while, to be fair,” he told Arsenal Player.
“We were close a few years ago, so it’s not the first time. It didn’t happen that time but now thank God it came true. I’m super happy.
“Obviously it was important for me in my career to come here. Southampton gave me the opportunity to play in the Premier League but obviously it’s amazing this step, to come here and play for Arsenal.
Arteta then explained why Arsenal decided to make a move for Soares.
“I’m very pleased, he’s a player we’ve been following. He fits our structure at the moment and the needs that we have in the squad,” he said.
“He knows the league, he has ben competing here so he doesn’t really need to adapt so I’m very pleased.
“We were short there, we’ve had some big issues in the past in that position because we only had two players there, one of who is not really a full back and Hector [Bellerin] has been injured in the long-term as well.
“To have the possibility to bring in a player in that position with that quality and experience right now wasn’t easy, but we’ve done it.”