Arsenal's Mustafi to miss start of next season after hamstring surgery

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FA Cup Semi Final - Arsenal v Manchester City - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - July 18, 2020 Arsenal's Shkodran Mustafi is substituted after sustaining an injury, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Justin Tallis/Pool via REUTERS

Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi will miss the start of next season after having surgery on his hamstring, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.

Mustafi, 28, sustained a hamstring injury during the closing stages of Arsenal's 2-0 FA Cup semi-final victory against Manchester City this month, ruling the German centre back out of Saturday's final against Chelsea.

Arsenal confirmed Mustafi had a "successful small procedure" to his right hamstring over the weekend and is expected to return to full training in October.

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FA Cup Semi Final - Arsenal v Manchester City - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - July 18, 2020 Arsenal's Shkodran Mustafi walks off to be substituted after sustaining an injury, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Justin Tallis/Pool via REUTERS

"Shkodran is now in the early stages of his recovery and rehabilitation, receiving specialist attention and support from our medical team," the club said in a statement.

It means Mustafi will miss a second FA Cup final after illness forced him to watch on from the sidelines as Arsenal beat Chelsea in 2017.

The 2020-21 Premier League season begins on Sept. 12.

(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)