Arsenal Injury Blow: Star Set To Miss Key Games Against Everton & Man City

Arsenal are set to be without key defender Shkodran Mustafi for up to seven games after he suffered a hamstring injury while away with Germany, according to the Mirror.

Mustafi was handed a start for Germany’s World Cup qualifying win over Azerbaijan on Sunday night but limped off in the first half after pulling-up with a hamstring problem in the 34th minute.

The Arsenal centre-back sustained the injury in the build-up to Ramil Sheydaev’s goal during a 5-1 win and was replaced by Matthias Ginter after receiving treatment from the German medical team.

Boss Joachim Low confirmed after the game on Sunday that Mustafi had suffered a suspected muscle tear which would rule him out for an extended period of time.

Low is quoted as saying by the Mirror:

“With Mustafi it seems that it is muscle tear or some muscle fibre tear. In any case it could force him to a longer break.”

Mustafi has flown back to London to undergo further assessment with Arsenal but the Mirror claim the club believe he has torn his hamstring meaning he’ll be ruled out for several weeks.

No definitive time-frame has been put on his recovery yet but the newspaper says Arsenal fear Mustafi will miss up to seven games during what’s going to be a hectic few weeks.

If this estimate proves accurate, then the 26-year-old will miss Premier League games against Watford, Everton, Swansea and Manchester City which will be a huge blow to our hopes of breaking in to the top four.

Mustafi is also expected to sit out our League Cup fourth round clash with Norwich City at the Emirates as well as our Europa League double-header against Red Star Belgrade.

The news will come as a huge blow as Mustafi’s absence leaves us short of options in defence with Laurent Koscielny still nursing an Achilles injury and Calum Chambers also out with a hip problem.

Arsene Wenger will therefore have little choice but to bring in Per Mertesacker and Rob Holding to start in the back three alongside Nacho Monreal until Koscielny recovers.