Arsenal defender Mari returns to training for the first time since horrific stabbing

Pablo Mari has returned to training for the first time since he was stabbed in a horrific supermarket attack that left one person dead.

Mari, who is loan at Monza from Arsenal this season, has resumed training with the Serie A side after recovering from his injuries, Get Italian Football News has reported.

Mari says he was "lucky" to have escaped life-threatening injuries after he was caught up in the attack at a Carrefour supermarket in Milan in October.

He was stabbed in the back during the spree, which resulted in the death of 47-year-old supermarket employee Luis Fernando Ruggieri.

Four other people were injured during the violence incident in Assago, a suburb of Milan.

A 46-year-old suspect was arrested by police and was being treated under guard in a psychiatric ward at San Paolo hospital in Milan following the attack.

Mari returns to Monza training

Mari later underwent surgery to reconstruct two injured muscles in his back caused by the stabbing.

He was initially expected to miss around four months but has progressed ahead of schedule with his recovery and is now back training with Monza.

It is not yet clear if Mari will be fit in time for Monza's mid-season friendly against Lyon on December 22.

The Italian side return to competitive action with a Serie A match away at Fiorentina on January 4.

Mari joined Arsenal from Brazilian side Flamengo in 2020 and made 16 appearances in his first season at the Emirates.

He spent time at Italian side Udinese last season before being sent out on another loan to newly-promoted Monza in August.

He had made eight appearances for the club, scoring once, before the deadly attack on October 28.

While he remains an Arsenal player, Monza have the option to buy him at the end of the season.