Report: Arteta thinks 28-year-old Arsenal ace is ‘exceptional’, but could still sell him this summer

Thu 7 July 2022 19:15, UK

Arsenal have done well in the summer transfer window so far, bringing in four players.

Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos have all joined the Gunners ranks.

However, Arsenal also have several players surplus to requirements, for whom transfer solutions must be found.

Goal.com journalist Charles Watts has written an article about the Arsenal players that could leave this summer.

One of those is Pablo Mari, a player Mikel Arteta rates highly, but who appears to have no future at the Emirates.

The 28-year-old defender joined the Gunners on loan in January 2020 before signing permanently in the summer.

However, Mari has only made 22 senior appearances for Arsenal, and spent the second half of last season on loan at Udinese.

‘Sooner rather than later’

Watts, writing on , claims ‘there is a chance’ that the Serie A side could make the Mari deal permanent.

However, Udinese have publicly stated the numbers involved deal make it financially difficult for them to make a deal happen.

Watts believes a potential transfer involving Mari could ‘rumble on’ throughout the rest of the window.

And even though Arteta views the Spaniard as an ‘exceptional professional’, the prospect of game time for him is low.

The Arsenal boss has Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Rob Holding and William Saliba in his ranks already.

Mari is likely to be behind them all in the centre-back pecking order.

Therefore, Arsenal ‘need to find him a new club sooner rather than later’.

Even though he never quite managed to nail down a place at Arsenal, Mari is a decent defender.

His positional awareness is great, he’s really good in the air and he’s not too bad with the ball at his feet either.

Therefore, were Arsenal to sell Mari, it would be the best course of action for all parties.