Injured Arsenal loanee Pablo Mari ruled out for 'two to three months'

Arsenal loanee Pablo Mari has been ruled out for two to three months through injury, meaning he will miss the conclusion of the delayed season.

The defender, on loan from Brazilian outfit Flamengo, lasted just 24 minutes of the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City, the Gunners' first game back following the coronavirus hiatus.

Mikel Arteta also lost Granit Xhaka to injury in the same game - though his return is pencilled in for two weeks - before seeing first-choice goalkeeper Bernd Leno ruled out for four to six weeks in a damaging first week back in Premier League action.

Such an injury lay-off for Mari stretches beyond the expiry of his loan at the end of July, but Arteta confirmed last week that he intends to sign the player permanently for an £8million fee this summer.

When asked if he wants to make his loan deal permanent, replied: “Yep.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Flamengo vice-president Marcos Braz claimed their defender has been sold to Arsenal.

"Pablo Mari was sold, in fact," he told reporters. "There is no doubt about it.

"We know that he suffered a serious injury, but that matter is already resolved and when the right moment comes, the numbers will come out on the club's balance sheets."