Arsenal have signed Southampton fullback Cedric Soares on loan for the rest of the season, the club have confirmed.

Although the Portuguese international’s current deal with the Saints expires in June, the Gunners have opted to take the right-back on a temporary basis and then decide whether to sign him on a free transfer in the summer.

Most fans on Twitter have reacted positively to Soares joining the club:

Good business , plus proven PL and international experience…available free in summer✍?

— Rizi (@Rizi0192) 31 January 2020

Good cover in the full backs positions.
With two defensive signings in, the defense should get better now under Arteta.

Luiz, Sokratis, Mari, Holding…Saliba and Chambers to come. Not forgetting Bellerin, Cedric, Tierney and Kolasinac.#COYG

— @OmoGee (@OmoGee12) 31 January 2020

Happy with this.. I remember I wanted us to sign him on loan last year when he was available just after Hector's injury but he ended up going to inter..

— Marc Tyler (@MarcGibbons4) 31 January 2020

We should of signed him last Jan when Bellerin was out. Instead he ended up at inter.

— Andre Fahey (@AFahey_Official) 31 January 2020

Great backup signing. Really hope he does well.

— Sir Jenkinson (@theEpicGooner) 31 January 2020

Decent

— Cody Bristow (@CodybBristow) 31 January 2020

2 very shrewd deals in Cedric and Mari.
Will keep us ticking over until the summer nicely.

— Hitchslap (@mulligan100) 31 January 2020

A few supporters are, however, concerned that the defender is currently injured:

Injured for 4 weeks, Kallstrom mkII

— Chris Murray (@cjmurray32) 31 January 2020

But is this guy not injured at the moment ?

— Michel Grosset ???? (@kangemic) 31 January 2020

Am going to start a dialogue. pic.twitter.com/56aUgPj7dn

— ♚ Kris ☆♚ ?? (@Santi_Classorla) 31 January 2020

Soares has made 19 appearances for Southampton this season, scoring one goal and providing one assist. He will provide backup for Hector Bellerin, who has had his struggles with injuries this season.

The Spaniard only returned from a serious knee injury in late September and has had hamstring problems which have restricted his game time this campaign.

Soares will offer head coach Mikel Arteta an experienced alternative with the 28-year-old having been capped 33 times for Portugal and having won the European Championships with his country in 2016.