Pablo Mari says first words after being stabbed in the back by crazed knife man
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Pablo Mari says he is lucky to still be alive after suffering a horror knife attack in a supermarket.
The Arsenal defender, 29, is currently out on loan at Serie A side Monza and was enjoying some downtime with his wife and four-year-old son when a crazed assailant is reported to have grabbed a knife off the shelves before proceeding to attack customers.
Mari, who was stabbed in the back, is understood to be one of six victims of the unprovoked attack, from which one man tragically lost his life. After being airlifted to a nearby hospital in Milan, Mari is expected to make a full recovery.
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Describing the incident to Monza CEO Adriano Galliani, who in turn told Gazzetta dello Sport, Mari said: "I was with the trolley with my child inside and I felt an excruciating pain in my back.
"Then that man stabbed another in the throat. Today I had luck, because I saw a person die in front of me."
Stabbed just a few inches away from his lung, Mari was kept in hospital overnight so that staff could keep a watchful eye on his condition. The Arsenal star also suffered a mouth wound from the shock attack, which occurred at around 6.30pm local time.
Galliani tweeted: "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."
Mari is set to undergo surgery but the Monza CEO divulged he is in high spirits and joked could even report back to training on Monday. A 46-year-old man has been arrested by local authorities.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, gave an update on Mari's situation following their Europa League defeat to PSV. 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 OK."
An Arsenal statement 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."
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