Shkodran Mustafi ruled out of the FA Cup Final due to injury

Shkodran Mustafi will miss the FA Cup final due to a hamstring injury that he sustained during the semi final against Manchester City, according to Arsenal’s medical team.

Arsenal beat Pep Guardiola’s side 2-0 in the semi final last week at Wembley and will face Chelsea in the final on August 1st. Mustafi has been a mainstay in the Arsenal first team under Mikel Arteta. Prior to his injury, the German defender had started 13 of Arteta’s first 18 Premier League games as Arsenal head coach. Under Unai Emery and Freddie Ljungberg, he started just one match in the league this season.

The former Valencia centre back has been derided by Arsenal fans and the media on multiple occasions in the past for lapses in judgement and individual errors. Under Arteta, Mustafi has made significant progress and put in a string of impressive performances. It would have been unthinkable just a few months ago that Mustafi’s absence would be seen as a blow to Arsenal’s chances of winning a football match but that is exactly where we find ourselves today. 

Rob Holding is likely to deputise for Mustafi in Arsenal’s last Premier League game of the season against Watford at the Emirates this Sunday. He is also expected to start the FA Cup final against Chelsea. Mustafi missed Arsenal’s last FA Cup final when they emerged victorious against Antonio Conte’s Chelsea side in 2017. Unfortunately, history is repeating itself and he will have to watch on as his teammates aim to deliver a trophy and European qualification at Wembley next Saturday.