Arsene Wenger has urged his Arsenal squad to step up to the ‘challenge’ of replacing Shkodran Mustafi.
The defender injured his hamstring during Saturday’s 3-1 win over Stoke City and is expected to be out for three weeks.
?The German, who arrived in the summer for around £35million from Valencia, has been in impressive form for Arsenal and Wenger says his players must now rise to the task of replacing him.
“It is a challenge, because we had a good defensive stability and we have Gabriel, we have [Rob] Holding, who can come in for him,” said Wenger.
“And overall, I am confident that both can do well, but that’s one of the tests we have.
“We have had many tests since the start of the season, players like [Santi] Cazorla who have suddenly moved out of the team and we have managed to deal with it and that’s another challenge.”