Arsenal footballer Pablo Mari stabbed as supermarket attack leaves one dead and several injured

27 October 2022, 19:52 | Updated: 27 October 2022, 23:11

Arsenal star Pablo Mari has been stabbed along with others in a supermarket attack that left one person dead.

The rampage broke out in the Milanofiori di Assago shopping centre at around 5.30pm on Thursday, Italian media reported.

Mari is thought to be ok - he is reported to have been airlifted to Niguarda Hospital and is conscious.

Sources at Arsenal earlier told MailOnline that his agent had described the wound as being a superficial leg injury.

Four people are said to be in a serious condition. It was believed that a total of six people had been attacked.

Reports from Italy said a 46-year-old man is believed to have entered a store, taken a knife from the shelves and started stabbing people.

Customers were reported to have tried to stop him. Police have arrested a man and taken him into custody.

The motive for the attacks is unknown but authorities said there were no elements to suggest terrorism, according to LaPresse.

Mari, 29, is a centre back who plays for Monza, a club in the Italian league, on loan from Arsenal.

He has appeared eight times for the club, who are 15th in the table, and he has scored one goal.

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta, speaking after his team's Europa League game with PSV Eindhoven, said: "I know [club technical director] Edu has been in touch with his relatives.

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"He is in hospital. He seems to be OK. I will get a briefing now about what happened."

A statement on Arsenal's website 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."

A Monza statement said: "Pablo Mari has quite a deep cut to his back, but fortunately it did not reach any vital organs like the lungs or anything else. 

"His life is not in danger, he should recover quickly.

"He has some lesions, but not very serious.

"He is conscious and getting stitches."

Mari began his career with Spanish side Mallorca before later moving to Manchester City, where he was loaned out to clubs including Deportivo La Coruna.

He joined Arsenal permanently in 2020 but only made a dozen league appearances before being sent to Italian side Udinese on loan, and then joining Monza on a temporary deal this year.