Arsenal have sent fans into confusion on Twitter today by announcing the signing of two players everyone thought they had already announced months ago.
The extension of the season, of course, complicated things a little, as Arsenal, like other clubs, had to extend loan deals that were due to expire in June. Of those that Arsenal extended were Cedric Soares and Pablo Mari.
We were also led to believe that both players had been signed on a permanent basis. Cedric saw his contract at Southampton expire, whilst all the signs from Flamengo were that despite it originating as a loan deal, Mari was going to join Arsenal permanently.
Back in June reports in Brazil and England covered the news that Mari had joined the club for around £14million. Sky Sports also reported the Mari news and that Cedric had made the move permanent.
But it is only today that Arsenal have officially confirmed the permanent signings of Cedirc and Mari.
26-year-old Mari will be expected to compete with new signing Gabriel in the left centre back role – or he could play centrally in a back five. Cedric will now compete with Bellerin for a starting right-back berth, with Ainsley Maitland Niles set to leave the club.