ARSENAL star Pablo Mari has been rushed to hospital after being STABBED in a Milan supermarket.
The centre-back, 29, currently on loan at Serie A side Monza, was one of five people attacked at random around 6.30pm local time on Thursday.
Mari was among those taken to hospital via helicopter, with local media reporting one has since died.
Gazzetta dello Sport initially claimed the Spaniard – who was shopping with his wife and son – was in “serious condition” along with two other victims.
The Italian outlet also reported a 30-year-old member of staff at the store died following a cardiac arrest after being stabbed in the chest and abdomen.
Around two hours on from the horror scenes in Milan, Monza CEO Adriano Galliani confirmed Mari would make a full recovery.
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He will undergo surgery and be kept in hospital overnight.
Galliani confirmed: “Pablo Mari is not in danger as his injuries are not life-threatening. We hope to see him back soon”.
In a tweet, Galliani added: “Dear Pablo, we are all here close to you and your family, we love you, keep fighting as you know how to do, you are a warrior and you will get well soon.”
An Arsenal statement 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.
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“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.”
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, speaking after his side’s 2-0 loss at PSV added: “I just found out. I know Edu has been in touch with his relatives. He’s in hospital but he seems to be OK.”
A 46-year-old man has already been arrested by local police.
Officials have moved swiftly to reveal the attack is not believed to be terror related.
The stabbings are said to have occurred in the Carrefour supermarket in the Milanofiori di Assago mall on the outskirts of Milan.
The attacker is claimed to have grabbed a knife off one of the shelves in the store – particularly busy due to a nearby Placebo concert – before randomly stabbing shoppers.
Brave customers are reported to have wrestled the man to the ground.
On the horrific stabbing spree, one eyewitness said: “Now that we are far away we are calmer, but we were really terrified.
“We did not understand what was happening, we saw people running away in tears.”
Another told La Repubblica: “We were at the bar and we thought it was a robbery because we saw some boys and a lady running.
“Then we saw more and more people with upset faces and we realised that something serious had happened.”
Mari has made eight Serie A appearances for Monza this season, scoring one goal.
He joined Arsenal from Flamengo in 2020 but has made just 12 Premier League appearances.
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Mari has been loaned to Udinese and Monza this year alone, making a combined 23 Serie A appearances, scoring three times.
Monza have an option to buy Mari permanently at the conclusion of his loan deal.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
