Arsenal turned to new signing Pablo Mari after several failed bids for Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes, according to reports.
Mari joined the Gunners on loan from Flamengo during the last week of the January window following days of negotiations.
Southampton's Cedric Soares then followed days later, in what was a surprise move for the Portuguese international.
But it seems neither Mari nor Soares were Mikel Arteta's first choices to help bolster his defence, which had been ravaged by the injuries to Calum Chambers and Kieran Tierney.
Le 10 Sport report (via Metro) both Arsenal and Everton submitted 'firm offers' for Gabriel over 'many days'.
Lille rejected all advances for the 22-year-old though, as they valued Gabriel higher than the bids being tabled by either club.
Any hopes Arsenal had of signing Gabriel in the summer have also been hampered further after he signed a new contract with the Ligue 1 club until 2023.
Despite failing to land Gabriel, Arteta was content with the work Arsenal had done in the transfer market.
Speaking of Mari, he said: "For me he is very important he balances what I want to do from the backline, he gives us more options, more solutions and opens up the pitch more.
"He is a player we have been following for a few months and we are delighted to have him here."
Before adding of Soares: "He is a player who has big experience, he’s played in this country and in different leagues.
"He knows what it means. He has been very willing to go to another top club. He has that desire and that commitment.
"I followed him a few seasons ago and I really like what he can bring and it was the right conditions for us as well to try and improve the squad."
