Just because Arsenal always seem to have a long list of players in the treatment room does not make it any easier for the fans to see one of our regular first team players like Shkodran Mustafi pick up an injury. And it was clear that the Germany international star had done his hamstring, something Arsene Wenger confirmed and suggested would see the defender miss about a month according to a report in The Mirror.
Mustafi was a big money signing for Arsenal in the summer and he instantly began to show his worth and is still unbeaten in an Arsenal shirt. His partnership with Laurent Koscielny has been one of the big factors behind Arsenal’s form and run of results and it even has a name, Kostafi, so many Gooners will no doubt be worried about how his loss will affect the Gunners and our title challenge.
We will have to wait and see, of course, but I feel that it is not going to be as bad as many fear. The timing may seem bad, but actually the fact that Hector Bellerin is back from his injury at the same time is a major plus point and a bit of good luck for a change.
Even Bellerin’s absence could be seen as a positive because not only have we managed to keep winning without him, it has given Gabriel the game time he needs to become match sharp and that showed when he moved inside to partner Koscielny against Stoke.
So I think that the Brazilian will be an able deputy for the German. Having said that, no more injuries for a while would be nice, thank you very much.
Bob.