Arsenal slumped to a two-goal defeat at PSV Eindhoven on Thursday evening but the outcome was overshadowed by news that defender Pablo Mari, on loan at Monza, was stabbed in an Italian supermarket.
Mari's father spoke to Spanish radio station Cadena Cope after talking with his son. He said: "These have been very worrying hours for us. They started calling me at 8pm and my heart has skipped a beat.
"Veronica (the footballer's partner) has not told us how it happened, but she has told us that she has seen a person die in front of her. She has reassured us confirming that they are fine and that everything has been a fright for them."
For all the latest on Mari, Mikel Arteta’s side’s loss in Eindhoven and more – read on as Mirror Football takes a look at all the latest stories coming out of the Emirates Stadium.
Mari stabbed in supermarket attack
Arsenal's Pablo Mari has been stabbed in a frenzied attack on six people in a supermarket with one victim dying from their injuries.
The shocking incident occurred in a Carrefour near Milan, Italy this Thursday. All of the victims were airlifted to hospital, where a man in his 30s sadly passed away. Three other people are in serious condition. Mari was punched in the face before being stabbed in the back, suffering a deep cut. He will need surgery for the wound and has already received stitches for his lip, but is otherwise OK.
A 46-year-old man is believed to have taken a knife from the shelves of the store and began stabbing people inside. Customers are said to have bravely intervened to stop the attacker in the Milanofiori di Assago shopping centre at around 5.30pm. He has since been arrested and taken into police custody.
Read more on Pablo Mari’s condition here
Kroenke’s drastic spending change
Stan Kroenke is not a figure who is well-liked among Arsenal supporters - but the tide may be beginning to change.
The Missouri-born billionaire owns Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which is the holding company of the Premier League side, the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, the NBA's Denver Nuggets and others as part of a sports empire.
Kroenke's company first bought a 9.9% stake in Arsenal in April 2007 and gradually started buying more, becoming the majority shareholder in 2011, until a full takeover was completed in August 2018.
Read more about Kroenke’s spending changes
Gunners outclassed in PSV nightmare
Arsenal slumped to only their second defeat of the season as they were outclassed by PSV Eindhoven in their penlutimate Europa League group game.
Joey Veerman and Luuk de Jong both netted in a dominant second-half display from the hosts - the Dutch side also having three goals ruled out for offside offences.
Defeat leaves Mikel Arteta 's men still needing points to qualify as group winners and avoid what could be an extremely tricky play-off to reach the next round of the competition.
