Arsenal are set to complete their first signing of the January transfer window and their first under new coach Mikel Arteta. The player who is on the brink of official joining the Gunners is Pablo Mari.
The Spaniard will join the north London giants from Flamengo on a loan deal with the option to buy next summer. Initially, it was thought his Brazilian employers weren't open to the idea of a loan but the Premier League giants were able to negotiate their way to an agreement.
Mari arrived in England accompanied by Arsenal technical director Edu. Charles Watts of Goal caught up with the two at the airport and asked the defender if he is excited over his Emirates Stadium move to which he responded: "Yeah, of course!"
Pablo Mari has just arrived at Heathrow with Edu and he tell me he is excited to be joining Arsenal.
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) January 25, 2020
Medical to take place this weekend. pic.twitter.com/6VY1RM3wJL
While the Spanish center-back might not be a familiar name to several fans, Arteta is fairly acquainted with the 26-year-old. Prior to joining Flamengo, Mari spent three years at the Etihad Stadium.
The center-back enjoyed a successful spell in Brazil, helping Mengão lift the Copa Libertadores title and the Brasileirão crown. He is now in the English capital to finalize a deal and undergo a medical.
This addition will give Arteta numbers in defense. Arsenal were in need of a center-back after losing Chambers to a serious injury, leaving him with the unreliable Mustafi and out-of-form Rob Holding as back-up to David Luiz and Sokratis.
