Arsenal show their class over Pablo Mari incident by Dan Smith
Throughout our history, whether we have been winning trophies or not, Arsenal have always been renowned as doing things, ‘the right way.’
Even our rivals would admit that we were the club who on and off the pitch acted with class.
It stretches back to the days of Herbert Chapman. Legend has it that the manager paid out of his own pocket for the entrance at Highbury to be painted marble red.
His rationale was that when visitors walked in, they would know the Gunners were a side which did everything proper with high standards.
As our former captain, Mikel Arteta is aware of our principals and since his first day employed as our boss has stressed that he and his employers have an ethos that is non-negotiable.
Our squad again demonstrated that class on Sunday by paying respect to teammate Pablo Mari, on loan to Monza.
Minutes after our loss in Holland on Thursday, it was confirmed the defender had been stabbed in a local Italian Supermarket.
He was one of 6 people subjected to the attack, with one losing their life.
If ever there was a reminder that football is a beautiful game but just that, a game …. it was losing a match but then hearing a fellow Gunner was being rushed to hospital.
The centre back is now resting at home after surgery on his back.
He won’t be able to play for another 2 months but that seems irrelevant right now.
What he witnessed in that shop, this happening in front of his wife and baby, will live with him forever.
Italian media are even suggesting that Mari was the original target with the accused believing a famous footballer was in the store and feeling, ‘jealous’
A 46-year-old man has been charged and is believed to have told the police, ‘there was a Milan player among the clients. I felt jealous, because he was doing well, and I was not.
“So, I struck him with a knife that was in my hand, and I could’ve stopped there, but instead I don’t know what got into me and I started striking other people too.”
Before kick-off at the weekend and after our first goal, a Mari shirt was held up in front of the crowd.
Once a Gooner, always a Gooner….so on behalf of the JustArsenal family, my thoughts and prayers are with Mari and his family.
Dan Smith
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