Players at Italian club Monza joined their Arsenal counterparts in showing their support for Pablo Mari as the centre-back recovers from a stabbing.
Spanish defender Mari was one of several people attacked in an incident at a supermarket in MIlan. He has since been discharged from hospital after surgery, but is expected to face some time on the sidelines.
Arsenal's first-team players and staff all held up a shirt bearing Mari's name and number before the Gunners' Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest, with Gabriel Martinelli dedicating the opening goal to his colleague. Now Monza, for whom the defender scored his first goal on October 9, have delivered a tribute of their own.
As they walked out onto the pitch ahead of a Serie A clash against Bologna, Monza's players wore shirts bearing the message 'Torna Presto Pablo' ('Come back soon, Pablo'). There was also a minute's silence for Luis Fernando Ruggieri, the cashier killed in the incident.
"After the tough time we had yesterday, both my family and I want to communicate that thankfully we are all fine despite the circumstances and to thank all the messages of support and love we are receiving," Mari said in his first public statement after the attack.
""In addition, we want to send condolences and all our strength to the relatives and friends of the deceased person, and we sincerely wish that all injured people recover as soon as possible."
While spending the season on loan at Monza, Mari remains an Arsenal player. The support from the Gunners' squad was evident during Sunday's win, while manager Mikel Arteta was also asked about the situation earlier in the week.
"We are all shocked to hear the dreadful news about the stabbing in Italy, which has put a number of people in hospital including our on-loan centre-back Pablo Mari," an Arsenal statement read in the aftermath of the attack.
"We have been in contact with Pablo’s agent who has told us he’s in hospital and is not seriously hurt. Our thoughts are with Pablo and the other victims of this dreadful incident."
Monza themselves, meanwhile, shared a statement on Friday shedding more light on the recovery process.
"The specialists of the General Surgery-Trauma Team of the Niguarda Hospital in Milan carried out this morning the surgery to reconstruct the two injured muscles on Pablo Mari's back," it began.
""The surgery went well and a hospital stay of two or three days is expected. After the resignation, the player will be able to start a rehabilitation process.
"This type of muscle injury usually requires two months of rest before you can resume physical activities."
Pablo Mari had played eight times for Monza before the incident. He scored his first goal for the newly-promoted side in a victory over Spezia, and was part of the team beaten by AC Milan on October 22.
