Soares joined Arsenal on loan from Premier League rivals Southampton in the January transfer window.
The 28-year-old’s loan spell at the Emirates Stadium was to run out this summer, and so was his contract at the Saints.
As reported by Sky Sports, Arsenal have decided to hand the right-back a permanent contract.
Arteta, who was appointed the Arsenal head coach in December 2019, has given his thoughts on the Portugal international.
Arteta told Football.London about Soares: “He’s been very unlucky since the day he joined us.
”We signed the player because we were very short in that area period on that position [right-back], we haven’t been able to use him but we believe that a player with the market value he had, that he could add things we didn’t have in the squad.”
Keeping faith
Soares has yet to play a competitive game for Arsenal due to knee and facial injuries, and it must be frustrating for the player, Arteta and the fans.
However, the Portuguese is a very good right-back who has been a success in the Premier League, and next season he will be a strong competitor to Hector Bellerin for the right-back spot in the Gunners’ starting lineup.
The Gunners will take on Premier League rivals Sheffield United in the sixth round of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.
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