Arsenal defender Pablo Mari has returned home to Spain for further treatment on an ankle injury, the club have confirmed.
The centre-back arrived in north London from Brazilian outfit Flamengo on an initial six-month loan deal costing £4million in January, only to sustain the issue on his third outing for the Gunners during their first post-shutdown Premier League fixture against Manchester City on June 17.
Mari's injury was initially feared likely season-ending before being diagnosed as significantly sprained ligaments in his left ankle, though that did not stop Arsenal from exercising their option to complete a permanent deal for his signature worth around £8m last month.
Earlier this week, it was confirmed that the 26-year-old was aiming to return to full training in September after undergoing successful surgery.
In a further update posted to their official website on Thursday, Arsenal additionally revealed that Mari - who is now said to be moving "freely without aid" after initially using crutches following his ankle procedure - had returned to Spain for a short period to continue receiving "specialist attention and extensive therapy".
The former Mallorca and Gimnastic defender is expected to return to the UK later in July to continue his rehabilitation at the Gunners' London Colney training base.
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