CEDRIC has signed a long-term deal to remain at Arsenal beyond the end of the season.

The Portuguese international put pen to paper on a new four-year contract, keeping him at the Emirates Stadium until at least 2024.

He joined Arsenal on loan in January but is yet to feature for the Gunners due to a succession of injuries.

Cedric wasn't fit when he arrived in north London but then suffered a facial injury in training ahead of the Premier League's return to action.

Arsenal also secured deals for a David Luiz, Pablo Mari and Dani Ceballos.

Edu, the Gunners' technical director, said: “I am really happy that we will have these players in our squad for the future. 

"They have been part of the long-term technical plan Mikel and I have developed. They bring the right balance to our squad.

“Cedric is also going to be an important player. He has been unlucky with the injuries but he is close to being ready and gives us more strength in the right-back position."

Cedric was due to become a free agent at the end of the month, with his Saints contract expiring on June 30.

Arsenal agreed to pay the St Mary's side a loan fee, as well as covering 100 per cent of his wages, to sign him in January.

It's a package that netted Saints around £5million.

Cedric played over 130 times for the St Mary's side after joining from Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon back in 2015.