Report: Mustafi's concussion adds to Arsenal's FA Cup injury woes
Arsene Wenger is making contingency plans ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final after Shkodran Mustafi showed symptoms of a concussion following last Tuesday's win over Sunderland, reports BBC Sport's David Ornstein.
He missed the subsequent final-day defeat of Everton - initially down to "sickness," according to The Independent's Luke Brown - and is now considered doubtful to play next weekend's showpiece against Chelsea at Wembley.
Arsenal is already hit with absences to its backline. Laurent Koscielny was red carded for a reckless challenge on Enner Valencia on Sunday and so will miss the final through suspension, and Gabriel Paulista departed the Toffees test on a stretcher with a knee injury which Wenger admitted "doesn't look too good."
In what could be an unexpected rehearsal for how the back-three would look against Chelsea, the Gunners finished with a combination of Nacho Monreal, Rob Holding, and Per Mertesacker in the Everton tilt. It was captain Mertesacker's first appearance of the season after dealing with his own injury issues.
With that trio in defence, wing-back duties would likely lie with two of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Hector Bellerin, and Kieran Gibbs.
The FA Cup final represents Arsenal's last chance of silverware this season, and a final opportunity to correct what's been a disappointing term. The club ended a run of 19 consecutive campaigns in the Champions League by finishing fifth in the domestic standings, meaning Arsenal will play in the Europa League instead.
Related: Wenger admits blame in Arsenal's 5th-place Premier League finish
"If you have a one off year in 20 years it is not a problem," goalkeeper Petr Cech, who won the 2011-12 Champions League title with Chelsea, insisted to The Telegraph's Jeremy Wilson. "The club has a strong foundation and organisation to be one year out and to come back straight it. Like Chelsea last season.
"It helped them not to be involved as they could keep all their energy for the league. I hope the team stays together. We can look forward to the FA Cup final and finish the season on a high."