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Ian Wright says Arsenal defender Pablo Mari is actually ‘massive’

Shamanth Jayaram

Sat 30 July 2022 9:26, UK

Ian Wright has claimed that he was shocked by the size of ‘massive’ Arsenal defender Pablo Mari after standing next to him during the Gunners’ pre-season tour.

Mikel Arteta’s side have had a good pre-season so far. After a comfortable win against Ipswich at home, the Gunners picked up impressive victories over FC Nurnberg, Everton, Orlando City and Chelsea on their tour.

Wright was with the Arsenal squad at the start of their pre-season in Germany, and he got a chance to interact with a number of players. Gabriel Martinelli was one of them, and the young Brazilian sat down for a chat on the .

In the episode that was released this week, Mari’s name came up, and Wright revealed he never realised that the Spaniard was a colossal figure.

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Ian Wright says Arsenal defender Pablo Mari is massive

While speaking to Martinelli on his return from holiday, Wright’s co-host, Musa Okwonga, asked the Brazilian who he was happiest to see in the Arsenal squad.

The Brazilian replied: “I think Pablo Mari, he’s back with the team (from his loan spell at Udinese). I love him.”

Wright then said: “Yeah, he’s big!

“When you look at him yesterday, I didn’t realise because you watch him on the pitch and you think, ‘yeah, he’s pretty big’, but when you’re next to him, he’s massive!”

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At 6 ft 4 in, Mari is one of the tallest members of Arsenal’s squad, and on his day, he’s more than a decent defender as well. However, the Spaniard, who joined the Gunners in a in 2020, has no future at the Emirates.

Arsenal currently have Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Rob Holding and William Saliba as options in central defence. Takehiro Tomiyasu can also play there when required, while young Reuell Walters has really impressed in pre-season too.

The Gunners don’t really need Mari anymore, and it is very likely that he’ll be sold before the transfer window shuts in a little over a month’s time.

Mari was brilliant for Udinese in Italy last season, and a return to the Serie A remains a possibility.

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