David Luiz: Jorge Jesus says Pablo Marí is ready to play at Arsenal | OneFootball

Pablo Marí could make his much-anticipated Arsenal debut this Sunday when the Gunners host Newcastle.

Arsenal shelled out a whopping £4m to bring in the player on loan from Brazilian and South American champions Flamengo for the rest of the season, though the deal includes an option-to-buy for a further £8m.

David Luiz has known Flamengo boss Jorge Jesus since the two worked together at Benfica from 2009 to 2011 and revealed to the London Evening Standard that the Portuguese manager believes the 26-year-old will fit right in.

“I speak with Jorge every week, he’s really my friend,” Luiz told the Evening Standard. “He told me to welcome him in the best way because Pablo is ready to play.

“He’s a great player, he did amazing in Brazil under Jorge Jesus, a coach I know very well. Jorge is my friend and one of the top coaches in the world.

“It was a pleasure for me seeing Pablo and Rodrigo Caio, another friend, doing really well in Brazil. I hope Pablo can help us.

“Pablo was courageous, not scared to try something big [by moving to Brazil]. It was the same with Jorge Jesus, to go to Brazil as a European coach.”

Despite being in the Manchester City system for three years, Pablo Marí never once played on English soil.