Pablo Mari is pushing to make his Premier League debut for Arsenal this weekend against Newcastle United, according to reports.

The Evening Standard report that Pablo Mari is pushing to make the squad for the home match against Newcastle United this weekend. Arsenal are playing their first game after the winter break on Sunday, following a trip to Dubai.

Mari joined the squad for that training camp overseas, after signing on loan in January. As the Brazilian leagues work on a calendar-year format, the defender was on holiday prior to his transfer, so he needed the break to get up to speed.

Brazilians in the media have been talking up Mari in the build-up to his first game for Arsenal. Rivaldo says he thinks the player will fit in ‘very well’, whilst David Luiz claims Flamengo boss Jorge Jesus gave Mari his stamp of approval.

The 26-year-old certainly had a positive spell in Brazil. He joined Flamengo, won the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, lifted the Copa Libertadores and reached the final of the Club World Cup. He also made the Serie A Team of the Year for 2019.

How that translates to Premier League football is another matter. We won’t know until he steps onto the pitch.