‘I Was Lucky’: Arsenal Defender Pablo Marí Is Stabbed In The Back During Attack At Italy Supermarket

Arsenal defender Pablo Marí says he’s “lucky” to be alive after being stabbed in the back at an Italy supermarket.

Marí — who is on loan at AC Monza — had been shopping Thursday with his wife and son when police say a man suffering from mental health problems went on a stabbing spree, killing one and injuring four others inside the Carrefour supermarket in Assago, Italian news agency ANSA reports.

The 46-year-old suspect allegedly grabbed a knife that had been for sale at the supermarket to carry out the attack.

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Marí told officials with AC Monza he had been pushing his son in a stroller when he felt “an excruciating pain” in his back, according to Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I was lucky,” he told the news outlet from the hospital. “I saw a person die in front of me.”

According to police, a 30-year-old employee of the supermarket was killed in the attack.

Marí was rushed to the hospital where he went into surgery to “reconstruct the two injured muscles” in his back, AC Monza said in a statement to the press.

The surgery went well and Marí is expected to stay in the hospital for two to three days as he recovers.

Then, he’ll begin the rehabilitation process. According to the soccer club, this type of injury typically requires two months of rest before physical activity can resume.

Shortly after the stabbing, Arsenal issued a statement saying they were “shocked” by the violence.

“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 Marí,” they said. “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 Marí and the other victims of this dreadful incident.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also addressed the incident Thursday after the team’s Europa League loss against PSV Eindhoven.

“I just found out. I know [Arsenal technical director] Edu’s been in touch with his relatives, he’s in the hospital and he seems to be OK,” he said. “I will have a briefing now about the situation, what happened, we will be in touch with him and hopefully he’s OK.”

The suspect in the attack is now facing charges of homicide and attempted mass homicide, according to Italian media.

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