Arsenal star defender set for at least a month on the sidelines with hamstring injury

Arsenal are set to lose Germany International Shkodran Mustafi for at least a month after the defender suffered a hamstring injury in the win over Stoke on Saturday. 

Mustafi, who has made a huge impact since his £35million arrival from Valencia in the summer, limped off after just 25 minutes. 

And Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger fears his influential centre back will not play again in 2016. 

"It's a bad one, he wasn't carrying anything before the game. I checked three times," said Wenger. 

"The minimum when you get one like that is 21 days, that means he will have a nice Christmas." 

The news leaves Wenger sweating on his central defensive options. With Per Mertesacker at least five weeks away from being available following a serious knee injury sustained in pre-season, Wenger is one injury away from a central defensive dilemma. 

The Gunners do have Rob Holding, a £2million summer signing from Bolton, in their ranks but the 21-year-old hasn't played in the Premier League since August.