Arsene Wenger has insisted Arsenal are confident about dealing with the challenge of coping without the services of Shkodran Mustafi for their upcoming games.
The defender, who has been in good form since joining Arsenal from Valencia in the summer, will be sidelined for three weeks due to a hamstring injury.
As a result, the German international will miss the Gunners’ Premier League games during the festive period.
However, in Mustafi’s absence, Wenger can turn to Gabriel Paulista and Rob Holding to partner Laurent Koscielny at the heart of Arsenal’s defence.
And the French manager, who explained that Arsenal are used to dealing with injuries this season, with Santi Cazorla facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, is certain about his side coping with Mustafi’s absence.
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“It is a challenge, because we had a good defensive stability but we have Gabriel, we have Holding, who can come in for him”, he said in his pre-match press conference on Monday.
“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 Cazorla who have suddenly moved out of the team and we have managed to deal with it and that’s another challenge.”
Arsenal, who beat Stoke City 3-1 at the weekend, are next up against Everton on Tuesday.
The north London club are currently second in the Premier League table with 34 points from 15 games, just three behind leaders Chelsea.
