Arsenal’s Pablo Mari pictured wearing a sling just days after being stabbed in a Milan supermarket

Arsenal’s Pablo Mari has been pictured returning to loan club Monza for the first time after being stabbed in horrifying ordeal in a Milan supermarket that left a cashier dead.

Mari was pictured wearing a sling whilst in attendance at the Stadio Brianteo as Monza defeated fellow Serie A strugglers Verona thanks to goals from Carlos Augusto and Andrea Colpani.

The defender was one of five injured when Italian assailant Andrea Tombolini went on a rampage in a Carrerfour store that left Bolivian-born clerk Luis Fernando Ruggieri dead.

Mari taken to hospital after being stabbed in his back during the attack and underwent surgery to repair muscle damage before being released.

Despite being injured during the attack, the 29-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport following the incident: ‘Today I was lucky, because I saw a person die in front of me.’

Mari’s teammates at Monza wore t-shirts with messages of support for their stricken colleague while the Spaniard was in hospital and also visited him during his recovery.

Pablo Mari made his first public outing after being stabbed in a Milan Supermarket in October 

The Spanish defender wore a sling and thanked fans for their reception on his return

Mari was forced to undergo surgery following the attack that left a cashier dead 

Mari’s Arsenal teammates held his shirt during celebrations in their win over Nottingham Forest

The incident took place in a Carrefour in the Milanofiori di Assago shopping centre when a 46-year-old man – who has since been arrested – took a knife from the shelves and attacked people with it

After joining Arsenal in the January transfer window in 2020, the former Manchester City defender made 12 Premier League appearances for the Gunners before spending last season out on loan to Udinese.

Following his return to the north London club in the summer, Mari was again loaned out, this time to Monza where he has made eight Serie A appearances and scored his first goal for the Lombardy club in their win over Spezia in October.

Despite informing Monza chiefs in the immediate aftermath of the incident that he would like to return to playing as soon as possible, a statement released by the club indicated that he will not be selected until early next year.

‘The specialists of the General Surgery-Trauma Team of the Niguarda Hospital in Milan carried out this morning the surgery to reconstruct the two injured muscles on Pablo Mari’s back.

‘The surgery went well and a hospital stay of two or three days is expected. After the resignation, the player will be able to start a rehabilitation process. 

‘This type of muscle injury usually requires two months of rest before you can resume physical activities.’