Arsenal Fear Key Man Will Be 4th Player Ruled Out Of Chelsea Clash

Arsenal fear that Shkodran Mustafi is set to become the fourth key player ruled out of Saturday evening’s FA Cup final against Chelsea, according to the Mirror.

Mustafi was forced to sit out Arsenal’s win over Everton on the final day of the Premier League season after suffering illness following a kick to the head during the win over Sunderland last Tuesday.

The 25-year-old completed the full ninety minutes as the Gunners beat Sunderland 2-0 but he fell unwell during the second half of last week and was diagnosed with mild concussion which ruled him out of the Everton match.

The initial hope was that Mustafi would only be out for a matter of days but the symptoms have remained and the German international has been unable to take part in training this week.

The Mirror claim that while Mustafi is confident he’ll be ready to start against Chelsea this weekend, the decision may be taken out of his hands due to the FA’s new strict laws concerning concussion.

Arsenal’s medical team will need to assess the defender ahead of Saturday evening’s final so Arsene Wenger is going to have to make a late call over his starting line-up but the paper claims the north Londoners fear Mustafi is running out of time.

With Laurent Koscielny suspended following his sending off against Everton and Gabriel ruled out for at least six weeks with a knee injury Arsenal are left with mounting problems in defence.

If Mustafi is passed fit, then he’s expected to start in a back three along with Rob Holding and Nacho Monreal – who’s free to play at the back after Kieran Gibbs recovered from a thigh injury.

However, if Mustafi is ruled out then Wenger will either have to hand Per Mertesacker his first start of the season or revert to a flat back four consisting of Bellerin, Holding, Monreal and Gibbs.

It’s hardly the ideal preparation for Wenger as he gears up to take on the newly crowned champions facing the prospect of bring without four key players as Santi Cazorla is obviously still out with a long-term Achilles injury.