Arsenal defender stabbed, rushed to hospital in Italy

A football star has been flown to hospital after a fatal knife attack. Police have rushed to the scene where five people have been attacked.

Pablo Mari plays against Liverpool. Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images.

Arsenal star Pablo Mari has been rushed to hospital after being stabbed in a Milan supermarket.

The 29-year-old, currently on loan at Serie A side Monza, is one of five people to have been attacked at around 6.30pm local time on Thursday, The Sun reports.

The defender was amongst those taken to hospital via helicopter, with one now believed to have 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.

Galliani confirmed: “Pablo Mari is not in danger as his injuries are not life-threatening. We hope to see him back soon”.

Arsenal 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.

Pablo Mari defends against Mohamed Salah of Liverpool. Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images.

Pablo Mari celebrates after scoring a goal. Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images.

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.

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.

— This story originally appeared on thesun.co.uk and has been republished with permission