Arsene Wenger has admitted that losing two centre-backs in one game is a big blow for Arsenal, who face Chelsea in the FA Cup final next Saturday.

• Kos’s red sees centre-back miss cup final
• Gabriel’s injury ‘looks quite serious’
• Mustafi just ill

Laurent Koscielny could have cost Arsenal the FA Cup next weekend.

The centre-back flew into a tackle on Everton’s Valencia during the first half of the Gunners’ 3-1 win on Sunday afternoon, and was consequently shown a straight red card by Michael Oliver.

This careless action means that the France international – Arsenal’s captain and usually one of their strongest players – misses a huge cup final and forces Per Mertesacker, who’s now only played once this season, to step up.

Following the win over the Toffees, Wenger also admitted that it looks as if Gabriel’s injury, which saw him stretchered off the pitch in the second half, looks serious.

“Gabriel’s injury looks quite serious, especially for next Saturday,” he said.

“We lost two centre-backs and that is a big blow.

“It looked spectacular [Koscielny’s sending off] but when you watch it again it looks harsh. What could we do?”

The manager confirmed that Shkodran Mustafi is just ill.