Mikel Arteta has issued an update on Arsenal defender Pablo Mari after he was stabbed in a supermarket attack in Italy.
The Spanish centre-back was involved in the shocking incident that saw six people attacked in the Milanofiori di Assago shopping centre in Italy at around 5.30pm this Thursday. Reports from Italy have suggested that a 46-year-old was believed to have taken a knife from the shelves of a Carrefour convenience store and began stabbing people shopping inside.
It is further reported that one victim has sadly died from their injuries with all of the victims involved being taken to hospital - four of those in a serious condition.
Customers are said to have bravely intervened to stop the attacker, who has since been arrested and taken into police custody. It has been confirmed that Mari, currently spending the season on-loan with Serie A club Monza, is conscious. Club CEO Adriano Galliani and coach Raffaele Palladino are said to have raced to be at the defender's side.
Arsenal boss Arteta was probed about the incident following the Gunners' Europa League defeat to PSV Eindhoven and detailed that the defender is in a stable condition after being airlifted to hospital.
He said: "I just found out. I know Edu has been in touch with his relatives. He's in hospital but he seems to be okay."
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Arsenal in the meantime have released a statement. It read: "We are all shocked to hear the dreadful news about the stabbing in Italy, which has put a number of people in hospital including our on-loan centre-back Pablo Mari.
"We have been in contact with Pablo’s agent who has told us he’s in hospital and is not seriously hurt. Our thoughts are with Pablo and the other victims of this dreadful incident."
In Italy, Mari's adoptive club Monsa issued a couple of statements via CEO Adriano Galliani. The first read: "Dear Pablo, we are all here close to you and your family, we love you, keep fighting as you know how to do, you are a warrior and you will get well soon."
A further update on his condition was then offered with Mari having received stitches to his lip. “Pablo Mari has quite a deep cut to his back, but fortunately it did not reach any vital organs like the lungs or anything else," it read.
“His life is not in danger, he should recover quickly. He has some lesions, but not very serious. He is conscious and getting stitches.”
Mari initially joined the Gunners on-loan from Brazilian club Flamengo during the second-half of the 2019/20 season before being signed on a permanent deal.. Overall, he has made 22 appearances for the club.
