Arsenal loanee Pablo Mari is set to return to action this week after the defender was attacked and stabbed in a supermarket outside Milan in late October.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, the 29-year-old centre-back will be named in AC Monza’s squad to face Olympique Lyonnais later today in what will be Mari’s first game back since being stabbed eight weeks ago.
Mari joined the newly-promoted Serie A side on loan at the start of the season and has since made eight appearances in all competitions for the Italian club, scoring one goal and keeping an impressive three clean sheets.
Pablo Mari stabbed in supermarket attack
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Mari’s time in Italy has been overshadowed by the events of October 27th, when the Spaniard was a victim in a stabbing attack on the outskirts of Milan near a shopping centre, where the defender sustained injuries to the back and shoulder.
The 29-year-old underwent surgery and was eventually discharged from the hospital just three days after the horrific event that left five people, including Mari, injured and one person dead.
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Mari posted on Instagram after the event: “After the hard moment we experienced yesterday, both my family and I want to communicate that fortunately we are all fine despite the circumstances, and we want to thank all the messages of support and affection that we are receiving.
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Many would have expected Mari to take longer than two months off to recover from such a traumatising event. However, the defender’s return to soon is one that many supporters will be delighted to see, with Arsenal fans eager to see the centre-back thrive at Monza.
Indeed, the defender has impressed since moving to Italy this season. And with Mari now set to return to the the pitch, Arsenal supporters will be hopeful that the centre-back can deliver a performance to remember ahead of the Serie A restart against Lyon.