Arsenal defender Pablo Mari is set to miss out on two months of action having undergone surgery after being stabbed in the back in a shocking attack in Italy.
The Spanish centre-back was one of six victims involved in the attack on Thursday evening as a 46-year-old man is believed to have taken a knife from the shelves of a Carrefour store and began stabbing customers. It has been confirmed that one victim has passed away following the attack, with others airlifted to hospital - including Mari.
His loan club Monza have now confirmed that the 29-year-old has undergone reconstructive surgery on his back injuries and looks likely to be missing until the new year.
An official statement from the Serie A club read: “The specialists of the General Surgery-Trauma Team of the Niguarda Hospital in Milan carried out this morning the surgery to reconstruct the two injured muscles on Pablo Marí's back.
“The surgery went well and a hospital stay of two or three days is expected. After the resignation, the player will be able to start a rehabilitation process. This type of muscle injury usually requires two months of rest before you can resume physical activities.”
More details on the shocking attack have come from Monza CEO Adriano Galliani. He has confirmed that he has visited the defender and confirmed that Mari and his family were witness to one cashier in the store at the time of the incident being killed.
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The 78-year-old detailed: “I’ve spoken to Pablo. He told me about this incredible incident. He had his son in a trolley and his wife next to him.
"He didn’t notice anything. He then felt something painful in his back, which was the criminal’s knife.
“I imagine he was saved by his height because he was struck on the shoulder. Unfortunately, he also saw the criminal stab someone in the throat. He saw everything that happened and it was deeply disturbing.”
Mari, 29, has so far made eight appearances for Monza throughout the campaign, scoring his only goal of the campaign in a 2-0 win against Spezia earlier this month.
He had been key to his side’s excellent form recently as they attempt to retain their Serie A status having earned promotion from the second tier of Italian last term.
Mari’s loan deal is set to run until the end of the campaign and he will have just one year remaining on his contract once he returns to the Emirates Stadium having originally joined the Gunners on-loan from Fluminense before then agreeing a permanent move.
