Arsenal defender Pablo Mari has thanked Mikel Arteta for a frank discussion over his future during the January transfer market.

The Spaniard joined Udinese on a short-term loan after just two appearances for the Gunners this term.

Mari revealed he held talks with Arteta over his future and was pleased with his honesty.

"In the winter, we made commitments together," Mari told ESPN. "I explained my situation to him, my feelings. I don't play in the last six months.

"[He said] the plan in the next six months until June is going to be the same. I can play, of course, because maybe other centre-backs get injured, there can be a red card or yellow cards, but it is going to be one, two, maximum three or four games.

"In the end, I don't want that for me."

He added: "[Arteta] was a really, really, really good person in that moment. He said to me 'Everything that you need, you deserve that. You were a professional player until the end and you deserve it so everything I can help you, I'm going to do it.'

"I'm so glad to hear that from a coach because it was not an easy moment for me."