Despite having only missed nine games in his entire career before signing for Arsenal, Pablo Mari will not only miss the rest of this season but the start of the new one as well.

Arsenal's Spanish defender Pablo Mari (C) sits on the pitch after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on June 17, 2020. - The Premier League makes its eagerly anticipated return today after 100 days in lockdown but behind closed doors due to coronavirus restrictions. (Photo by PETER POWELL / POOL / AFP)
Arsenal’s Spanish defender Pablo Mari (C) sits on the pitch after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester,(Photo by PETER POWELL / POOL / AFP)

Speaking to the press ahead of Arsenal’s game this weekend away to Wolves (that’s five away games from six played since the restart if you’re counting), Arteta gave the latest updates on the fitness of his squad, including good news about Lucas Torreira.

We all know that Mari is out for the rest of the season after featuring for just 204 minutes in an Arsenal shirt.

Arteta has now confirmed he will miss the start of the new season as well.

In response to a question about whether or not he would move any centrebacks this summer, Arteta replied, “We will see because Pablo won’t be available to start the season and Calum won’t be available to start the season. We have nine games left until the end of the season, a lot of things can happen.

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“William has had a lot of issues this season with injuries as well so he has not been a stable player in that sense so let’s wait and see.

“At the moment we’re going to have options and we will consider the situation with what is best to do in the future but we don’t have much stability at the moment.”

PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND - MARCH 02: Pablo Mari of Arsenal celebrates after his teammate Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Arsenal (not pictured) scored their team's first goal during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Portsmouth FC and Arsenal FC at Fratton Park on March 02, 2020 in Portsmouth, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND – MARCH 02: Pablo Mari of Arsenal celebrates after his teammate Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Arsenal (not pictured) scored their team’s first goal during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Portsmouth FC and Arsenal FC at Fratton Park on March 02, 2020 in Portsmouth, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Mari has undergone a ‘procedure’ on his ankle (surgery) to help repair the problem as Arsenal made him the most expensive defender ever sold by Flamengo.

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