Arsenal confirm injury blow for defender ahead of FA Cup final

Arsenal have confirmed that Shkodran Mustafi will miss the FA Cup final against Chelsea next week after sustaining a hamstring injury.

The German has transformed his career under the guidance of Mikel Arteta and he has been one of the club's leading performers in 2020.

Mustafi played a key role in the club's 2-0 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final, but that came at a cost as he picked up a hamstring problem.

He missed the recent Premier League outing at Aston Villa which ended 1-0 in the hosts' favour and the Gunners have now confirmed that he is out for the season.

"Right hamstring sustained during FA Cup semi-final on Saturday. Will miss remaining matches of this season," a statement on their official website read on Friday.

In the absence of Mustafi, Rob Holding is expected to partner David Luiz and Kieran Tierney in the back three when the Gunners take on Chelsea in the FA Cup final on August 1.

Prior to that game, they complete their Premier League season by hosting Watford at the Emirates Stadium. A victory could take them upto eighth in the standings, if the other results go their way.