Pablo Mari says goodbye and thankyou to Arsenal fans
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 30: Fans look on in the sun during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium on October 30, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Mari pens emotional goodbye
Pablo Mari bid an emotional farewell to Arsenal as he completed his move to Italian side Monza.
The Spanish center-back initially joined the Gunners on loan from Flamengo in January 2020 before making the transfer permanent later that summer. He is also famously the first signing that Mikel Arteta made at the Emirates Stadium.
The former Man City man made a total of 22 appearances for Arsenal, scoring one goal and being part of the squad that clinched the FA Cup and Community Shield titles in 2020.
As my contract with @Arsenal comes to an end, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent this great and historic club, for all the memories and for the support I always received. pic.twitter.com/gbxkZuGCIZ— Pablo Mari Villar (@PabloMV5) July 1, 2023
Last season, the 29yo spent a loan spell at Monza, and now the deal has been made permanent for a reported fee of £5 million. Expressing his gratitude to the Gunners and the fanbase, Mari took to social media to share his heartfelt appreciation for the opportunity to represent the historic club and the support he received throughout his time there.
The defender wrote, “As my contract with @Arsenal comes to an end, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you.”
He continued, “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent this great and historic club, for all the memories and for the support I always received.”
All the best to Pablo Mari. Came to Arsenal as a strong defender and contributed to the process. A good leader that he actually captained our team and allowed us to some rotations in the team. Despite not cutting it at the club, he earned us 6m.
Once a gooer, always a gooner! pic.twitter.com/3pwSCENICR— GravityGooner✨ (@Gravitygunner14) July 1, 2023
The Spaniard concluded by saying, “It has been an immense honor to wear the Arsenal jersey and win two titles with this club. The Gunners will always have a place in my heart!
Despite enduring a challenging period when he was stabbed during an attack in Milan, Mari showcased his resilience and professionalism. Last season, he played 31 games for Monza, playing a vital role in helping the team secure their Serie A status.
Mari leaves the Gunners after failing to truly establish himself at the heart of the team’s defense. With the arrival of Jakub Kiwior in January and the imminent signing of Jurrien Timber, Mari would have been only a bench player at Arsenal.
The time feels perfect to part ways.
