Pablo Mari insists he does NOT want to return to Arsenal when his loan deal at Udinese expires

Pablo Mari insists he does not see his future at Arsenal and would like to stay in Italy beyond the end of the season.

The 28-year-old centre-back joined Udinese on loan in the January transfer window following a lack of game time in north London and has gone on to make eight Serie A appearances for them.

The Spaniard's loan deal is not thought to include an option to buy but his desire is not to return to the Premier League, insisting he has found the 'right league' for him and is aiming to take Udinese up the table.

'When I arrived in January, I had a clear and precise idea,' Mari told Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport.

'I told the coach and [club owner] Gino Pozzo that I was coming to play. But I realized that I had to earn the job day after day, workout after workout. [Head coach] Cioffi was the first who welcomed me, well, here.

'It's the right league for me. Very tactical. I try to bring the attacker towards me.

'I really like having the ball and here it can be done and then there is the battle and I like having a battle on the pitch. I would like to stay in Italy.

'I'm very well at Udinese and I'd be happy to take the club even higher in the standings. Of course, I still have a two-year contract with Arsenal.

'I've resumed playing continuously after the operation on my left ankle where I was out for five months.'

Mari joined Arsenal on an initial loan deal from Brazilian club Flamengo in January 2020 before the move was made permanent in the summer that year.

He has gone on to make 19 appearances across all competitions for the Gunners, scoring just once in a 4-1 win against Rapid Vienna in last season's Europa League.

The Spaniard also played the full 90 minutes at the start of this season in the Premier League defeats by Brentford and Chelsea, while his latest Gunners appearance came in the 3-0 League Cup win against Wimbledon in September.