Mikel Arteta admits Cedric Soares has 'injury issue' after completing Arsenal transfer

Mikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal new boy Cedric Soares is struggling with an injury problem.

Cedric has joined Arsenal on loan until the end of the season from Southampton.

The Portuguese defender is out of contract in the summer and could earn a permanent deal at the Emirates.

But he will have to wait to make his debut, having been forced off injured in Southampton's win over Crystal Palace earlier this month.

Gunners boss Arteta confirmed he will not be able to play against Burnley this weekend.

"He's got a little issue, I don't think he will be able to play [on Sunday]," Arteta said.

"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 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."

Cedric was Arsenal's second signing of the transfer window with Pablo Mari also arriving on loan from Flamengo.