Arsene Wenger confident Arsenal can cope without injured Shkodran Mustafi

Arsene Wenger has urged his Arsenal squad to step up to the 'challenge' of replacing Shkodran Mustafi.

The defender injured his hamstring during Saturday's 3-1 win over Stoke City and is expected to be out for three weeks.

?The German, who arrived in the summer for around £35million from Valencia, has been in impressive form for Arsenal and Wenger says his players must now rise to the task of replacing him.

"It is a challenge, because we had a good defensive stability and we have Gabriel, we have [Rob] Holding, who can come in for him," said Wenger.

"And overall, I am confident that both can do well, but that's one of the tests we have.

"We have had many tests since the start of the season, players like [Santi] Cazorla who have suddenly moved out of the team and we have managed to deal with it and that's another challenge."