Pablo Mari has told Gazzetta Dello Sport that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is an “excellent teacher” and compared him to his old Flamengo boss Jorge Jesus. That is, despite a failed spell at Arsenal after being signed by Edu.
Mari, 28, joined Udinese on loan in January after failing to make an impression at Arsenal in his initial 18 months. Signed on loan in January 2020, he was bought permanently that summer.
But injury hampered the Spaniard’s progress and he has just 22 Arsenal appearances to his name. The signing of Ben White and the form of Gabriel forced him to go on loan in January, since impressing for Udinese.
Indeed, he has started eight of the 10 Serie A games he has played in – missing the first having only just signed, and the second through suspension. He gave an interview to GDS, which was published on Tuesday.
Asked about Arsenal manager Arteta, Mari was full of praise despite his indifferent spell at the Emirates: “A great coach [on Arteta]. Just like Jorge Jesus was at Flamengo. I had excellent teachers.”
Mari on Arteta: Should Arsenal rue Udinese decision given form?
Mari has since impressed for Udinese having fallen down the pecking order at Arsenal. So much so, that he was even behind Rob Holding when he finally joined Udinese on loan last January. But was that a mistake?
Udinese had won just four of 20 Serie A games before Mari joined. Since then, they have won another four in just 10 – Mari playing in three. They have lost just two of his eight appearances, losing eight beforehand.
With Gabriel struggling, perhaps Arteta did not give Mari the chance he deserved – but injury certainly affected the amount of chances Arteta could give him. Udinese seems like a good place for Mari to continue his career.
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