GUNNERS SAY I DO TO MARI

ARSENAL have completed a loan deal for Pablo Mari – and now have their sights on Southampton’s Cedric Soares.

Spanish centre-half Mari is joining from Flamengo until the summer when the Gunners will have a £10million option to make the move permanent.

Boss Mikel Arteta also wants to strengthen at full-back and Portugal international Cedric (below right) – who will be a free agent this summer – could join before the deadline.

It is understood that while Arsenal have other options, £5m Cedric, who can play leftback or right-back – is now in pole position.

Kieran Tierney is a longterm injury worry at left-back, while Hector Bellerin has been a concern as he comes back from a knee injury.

It would still be a surprise move for Cedric, as he would be available for nothing at the end of the season.

Arsenal have been looking for reinforcements in central defence, and are confident enough that the much-travelled Mari (in his Arsenal shirt, above) will settle they have agreed to his Brazilian club’s condition that a £10m transfer follows his loan spell.

The 26-year-old former Manchester City defender has been outstanding in Flamengo’s recent success, and scouting reports suggest he can fit into Arteta’s pressing game. Mari said: “The conversations started a couple of weeks ago. Arsenal told us that they were interested. “We’d just won everything with Flamengo – I won the league and the Copa Libertadores and was also named best centre-back in the Americas, so that will have helped Arsenal notice me. “It’s a massive opportunity for me to come to England, which is the best league in the world right now.

“Being able to play in this league and having the opportunity to play for Arsenal is incredible, so I’m really looking forward to wearing the shirt as soon as possible.

“I want to help my team to win matches and give my fans something to celebrate.”

Arsenal technical director Edu added: “Pablo is an experienced player who will provide us with additional defensive quality.

“We’ve been monitoring Pablo’s career for a while and we are very pleased to have reached agreement with Flamengo for him to join us initially until the end of our season.

“Together with Mikel and his coaching team, we are all looking forward to seeing Pablo in an Arsenal shirt.”