Mikel Arteta confirms Arsenal star could miss FA Cup final

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has acknowledged that the club could be without Shkodran Mustafi for the FA Cup final against Chelsea next month.

The German has been one of the standout performers since Arteta took charge of the club and he recently impressed in the 2-0 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final.

Mustafi was recently missing for the Premier League defeat at Aston Villa due to a tight hamstring and Arteta has admitted that the centre-back is facing a race against time to face Chelsea on August 1.

"Musti is injured and we need to assess a little bit how long he is out. I doubt it. I don't know. We have to see how he evolves in the next few days. At the moment, I doubt it," he told via Arsenal.com.

The Gunners are currently 10th on the Premier League table, but they could finish as high as eighth depending on their result against Watford and those of Sheffield United and Burnley above them.

Arteta has vowed to field a reasonably strong side for the final game of the campaign as the Gunners could play a key race in the relegation battle involving three sides.

Aston Villa, who are 17th on the table, are currently ahead of Watford with a slender one goal difference. Bournemouth, meanwhile, are three points behind the duo.