Pablo Mari made his debut for loan side Udinese on Sunday afternoon and the Arsenal ace helped his new team produce a superb 2-0 win over Torino. His stats were excellent – even earning praise from Gabriel Martinelli.
Mari, 28, only played 22 times for Arsenal in the two years he was at the club – after joining in January 2020 from Flamengo, initially on loan. Injury and a lack of momentum hampered his progress, as did competition.
The combination of Gabriel and Ben White has given Arsenal a defensive backbone, the kind of partnership they have lacked for years. It has seen Calum Chambers and Mari leave the club in the January window.
Mari made his debut on Sunday, with Udinese winning 2-0. Mari played the entire 90 minutes, his stats certainly eye-catching. WhoScored report that he clocked up an enormous seven aerial duels won.
Mari stats: Arsenal star shines on loan, Martinelli praise
Not only was he dominant in the air, Mari also produced eight clearances as Udinese kept just their sixth clean sheet of the Serie A campaign. A superb performance at the back, one that Mari is certainly capable.
Clearly, Arsenal brought him to the club because he is capable of those kind of performances. But whether he has a future at Arsenal remains to be seen. Mari does have a contract with the Gunners until the summer of 2024.
Mari posted on Instagram after the match and Martinelli praised him – posting “Good, brother”.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
