Shkodran Mustafi will be a big miss for Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
Shkodran Mustafi will be a big miss for Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Arsene Wenger has confirmed Shkodran Mustafi will sit out Arsenal’s final Europe League group game.

The Arsenal centre-back is suffering a muscular problem and is a serious doubt for the Premier League game against Southampton on Sunday.

Wenger insisted he would play a strong side against BATE Borisov on Thursday night, but now faces a defensive dilemmas with Mustafi injured.

He said: ‘Everybody is available. There is a small problem with Mustafi from Saturday but everybody else looks alright.

‘He’s got a little thigh problem, but it’s a small one. He could be available for Southampton.’

(Picture: Getty)

Arsenal 2017/18 fixtures

Huddersfield (A) - Sun May 13

Mustafi did not train on Wednesday (Picture: Getty)
Mustafi did not train on Wednesday (Picture: Getty)

Wenger could leave Rob Holding or Per Mertesacker out against BATE with the Saints game in mind.

Mustafi did not train with the rest of the first-team on Wednesday and faces a race against time to be fit for Sunday’s clash.

Arsenal have qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League and can afford to take their foot off the pedal.

Arsene Wenger smiles in training
(Picture: Reuters/John Sibley)
Shkodran Mustafi holds off a player
(Picture: Getty)

But, the Gunners dropped out of the top four last weekend thanks to a defeat at the hands of Manchester United and need to stay within touching distance of a Champions League spot in the league.

Arsenal will top their group, but BATE come to the Emirates desperate for a win. They will qualify if they beat Arsenal and Red Star Belgrade draw with Cologne.

The Gunners won the reverse fixture 4-2 after racing into a 3-0 lead inside 25 minutes.

Everyone trained except for Mustafi (Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire)
(Picture: Reuters/John Sibley)
(Picture: Reuters/John Sibley)
(Picture: Reuters/John Sibley)
(Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire)
(Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire)

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