Arsenal continued their surge to the top of the table after a comfortable 3-1 win over Stoke City on Saturday afternoon.
The Gunners fell behind to a Charlie Adam penalty in the first half. Goals from Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil and Alex Iwobi secured an important three points for the North London club.
The Emirates club are level on points and share the same goal difference with Chelsea, but Wenger’s side are top by virtue of goals scored.
However the win did come at a cost, as Arsenal lost centre-back Shkodran Mustafi to apparent injury during trying early exchanges. The German international limped off the pitch after just 25 minutes after complaining of tightness in his hamstring.
Wenger confirmed the German international will miss the next three weeks of action following the game, bringing an end to his excellent start at the Emirates since his summer move from Valencia.
In recent years, the Gunners have found injuries to be a real problem—each season seems to carry at least one crisis, with several regulars forced to spend time on the sidelines, usually with the result of costing the team valuable points.
For one of their top summer recruits to have picked up an injury is unfortunate, particularly as he had formed quite the formidable partnership with Koscielny. The timing is particularly bad, with the busy festive period right around the corner.
Here are some of the reactions from Twitter:
Yes, it is
#Mustafi out for 3 weeks 😢 HUGE loss.
His & Koscielny's partnership has been a major factor to how we've been & where we are.— STERN GOODWILLIE (@KennyPowers8614) December 10, 2016
This is the worst time to get injured. Hoping to not be very serious. #Mustafi
— Gentiana Ibra (@GentianaIbra) December 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/ShEiKh_iZzAt/status/807665051561697280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
It is really good in almost all departments
Shame to lose mustafi but Gabriel has done very well and Holding behind him too. Depth of our squad bodes well for the season!
— Louis Akindele (@Louis_Akindele) December 10, 2016
Yes, he did
https://twitter.com/rangeroversheed/status/807665743248510976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I don’t think so
https://twitter.com/RHatimy/status/807665781483966464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/MesutsTouch/status/807666051848765440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
But we have enough back-ups this time around
https://twitter.com/KOyaadigg/status/807666130441699328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Bellerin is phenomenal offensively
Mustafi's injury was the catalyst for our offensive turn around. Amazing how much we rely on Bellerin in attack.
— Nebraskangooner (@Nebraskangooner) December 10, 2016
Mustafi out for 3 weeks 😪
— Mist Finer Whore (@Apex_Ambrose) December 10, 2016
Wrong time to have Mustafi out..
— _Kali_NI™_ (@Fantonidy) December 10, 2016
