Some Arsenal fans might have forgotten all about Pablo Mari.
The Spanish centre-back hasn’t kicked a ball in a senior game for Arsenal since way back in June due to injury.
With that in mind, you could understand why he’s something of a forgotten man, even if they did sign him for £14 million on a permanent basis while he was injured.
But the former Flamengo loanee is fit again and a second debut for the Gunners can’t be far away now.
Mari played 45 minutes of Friday’s 3-1 win over Derby County with the Under-23s and his return to fitness comes at a great time.
That’s because Mikel Arteta’s side have no fewer than nine games across all competitions in the month of December and the Spanish coach might need to rotate.
Let’s face it, if you’re conceding three goals to Aston Villa then your defence could probably be better.
And although Mari is hardly proven in the Premier League, having played only a handful of times since arriving on loan in January, he is an experienced figure and Arenal wouldn’t have signed him if they didn’t think he could add something.
Tomorrow’s visit of Wolves definitely comes too soon for the 27-year-old, but the North Londoners host Rapid Vienna at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night and maybe, just maybe, his second bow could come.
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