Arsenal blow as Shkodran Mustafi limps out of Germany’s win with injury
Central defender lasted just 36 minutes before the medical team had to help him off the field in the 5-1 victory. Germany boss Joachim Loew believes he 'could be out for a while.'
SHKODRAN MUSTAFI has dealt Arsenal a major blow after limping out of Germany's World Cup Qualifier against Azerbaijan.
The centre-back was forced off the field in the 36th minute with a suspected torn ligament and needed to be helped down the tunnel by the medical team.
Mustafi, 25, was sprinting alongside Ramil Sheydaev when he fell to the floor clutching his right thigh.
The defender looked in serious discomfort as the writhed on the pitch in pain as worried team-mates came to his aid.
Germany boss Joachim Loew believes the Arsenal man could be "out for a while."
He said after the game: "It doesn't look good, it looks like he had a torn ligament.
"We're waiting for a full diagnoses, but it looks like he will be out for a while."
He will now head back to north London where he will undergo scans to determine the seriousness of the injury.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be keeping his fingers crossed as he eyes Mustafi as an integral member of the first-team this season.
Signed for £35million in August 2016, he has started five of Arsenal's Premier League matches this season and has emerged as a regular in their back three.
Mustafi's injury was the only blotch on another winning night for the world champions with qualification for Russia already in the bag.
Leon Goretzka opened the scoring for the home side before Sheydaev scored a shock equaliser.
Sandro Wagner restored the advantage on 54 minutes before Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger scored the third.
Goretzka scored his second of the match on 66 minutes as Liverpool's Emre Can added to the scoreline.
It means the Germans end their qualifying campaign with a perfect record of 10 wins, scoring 43 and conceding just four.
