This archive report was first published on 25 August 2020.
On August 24, 2020, Arsenal announced that they had agreed to permanent deals with defenders Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares, following their loan spells in the second half of the 2019-20 campaign.
Mari, a 26-year-old Spanish centre-back, joined Arsenal in January from Flamengo, where he helped win the Brazilian Serie A title and Copa Libertadores in 2019.
Soares, a 28-year-old Portugal full-back, initially joined Arsenal on a short-term loan deal from Southampton and made five league appearances for Mikel Arteta's side last season.
Both Mari and Soares will now be part of Arsenal's permanent squad, as the club looks to strengthen its defensive cover ahead of the 2020-21 league campaign, which begins on September 12.
Premier League - Aston Villa v Arsenal - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - July 21, 2020 Arsenal's Cedric Soares in action with Aston Villa's Jack Grealish [Pool via REUTERS/Peter Powell]
