Arsenal play their second Europa League group stage game of the season on Thursday, but will do so without Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The Armenian, who joined Arsenal in January 2018, has had a mixed start to life at the Emirates, scoring four goals and recording nine assists in 24 appearances across all competitions.
Mkhitaryan did star in Arsenal’s 4-2 win over Vorskla in their first Europa League group stage game, starting the match and recording two assists.
However, he was left at home for the journey to face Qarabag due to diplomatic tensions between Azerbaijan and Mkhitaryan’s native Armenia.
A long-standing conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory – from where Qarabag originate – means Armenians can sometimes have visa issues though there are often exceptions made for sportsmen and entertainers, according to the Independent.
Despite that, Arsenal have decided to leave Mkhitaryan at home, with head coach Unai Emery citing the problems between the two countries.
“He cannot travel here,” Emery told reporters (via the Independent).
“We are here, the players with the best mentality and preparation and possibility to play tomorrow.”
“My work is football,” he added when pushed on the matter.
“I respect each person, I respect each people, I respect each culture, I respect each country. But I don’t know each situation in every country. For me, he cannot play tomorrow.
“There is respect for ‘Mkhi’ and respect for you. Today we are here with the opportunity to play well.”
Arsenal also travelled without Aaron Ramsey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the tie on Thursday, with Alexandre Lacazette leading the line in Azerbaijan.
Arsenal are saving Mkhitaryan, says Qarabag boss
Emery’s comments came after Qarabag manager Gurban Gurbanov had claimed the Gunners had saved Mkhitaryan from playing under pressure of the 68,000-capacity Baku Olympic Stadium – where Qarabag currently play their European games – which will also be hosting the 2019 Europa League final.
“I didn’t want politics to interrupt the sport but we could not do anything on this issue,” he said.
“But Arsenal Football Club tried to save this player but it is not a matter for us if he is coming or not.
“If Henrikh Mkhitaryan would come to Azerbaijan it is not the first time, but until now a lot of Armenian sportsmen came to Azerbaijan but it is the choice of Arsenal that they didn’t send [him].
“Arsenal may be afraid that in front of 60,000 Azerbaijani fans, Mkhitaryan has some pressure and that is why they didn’t send Mkhitaryan.”
The post EXPLAINED: Why Mkhitaryan didn’t travel with the Arsenal squad to play Qarabag appeared first on Squawka News.
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