Arsenal are facing up to the fact they could be without defender Shkodran Mustafi for a sustained period of time after he injured his thigh while on international duty with Germany.

The 25-year-old sustained the problem during the first-half of the Germany’s 5-1 World Cup qualifying success over Azerbaijan in Kaiserslautern on Sunday and he was immediately replaced by Matthias Ginter.

Germany boss Joachim Low revealed after the match that Mustafi has sustained a torn thigh muscle which means he is likely to face a prolonged period on the sidelines.

“With Mustafi it seems that it is some muscle tear or some muscle fibre tear,” Low said.

“In any case it could force him to a longer break.” The news will come as a huge blow to Arsenal, as they have kept clean sheets in their last four Premier League games with Mustafi starting all of those matches.

Arsenal already have defensive concerns ahead of their next league match at Watford on Saturday, as Laurent Koscielny is struggling with an Achilles injury, while fellow centre-back Calum Chambers is a doubt with a hip problem.

The Gunners have won eight of their last 10 meetings with Watford, although they were beaten 2-1 when the two sides last met at the Emirates Stadium in January.

Arsene Wenger’s men are priced at 1.62 to return to winning ways against the Hornets, who are available at 5.25, while the draw is on offer at 4.20.