Thread by @TheGooners__

A thread on new Arsenal’s centre back Pablo Mari - RT’s appreciated.

Flamengo paid around €1.5m when they signed Pablo Marí from Man City last July. Arsenal will reportedly pay €9m for him.

I’m just six months at Flamengo, Pablo Mari rapidly became a fan favorite. He has won the Copa Libertadores and the Brasileirão with them.

Mari has been a vital part of the Jorge Jesus side. He plays in a high line for Flamengo and his steadiness allowed the two veteran full-backs, Rafinha and Filipe Luis, to spend more time in the opponent's half than in their own, constructing the play from the back.

Pablo Mari was at Manchester City books for three years but never played a competitive game for them, was loaned to Spanish second tier sides. Arteta surely knows him from his time there.

Pablo Mari said recently that “I signed for City in 2013 but I’ve never met Pep Guardiola or all the first-team players. I’d love to one day speak to him because he’s one of the greatest ever coaches."

Mari is very tall, good in the air, good positioning, has decent technique for a centre back. He’s a left footed ball playing centre back, I believe he can be a good back up, specially for the price being quoted.

My concerns - there’s better options elsewhere, at Flamengo his team mate Rodrigo Caio is better than him. He is slow, hasn’t been tested at the highest level, is 26 and only played for Spanish second division sides.

I’ve seen loads of average defenders look great ones in organised sides, so for me the most important thing is getting our team to do that. Mari definitely “can do a job”

Flamengo fans are very upset that he’s leaving, specially for that price. I think he had an agreement with Flamengo to let him go if an European club made an offer.

“Is he better than Mustafi or Sokratis?” Honestly, that’s not hard to. And we shouldn’t sign players based on that alone.