Mkhitaryan is not going to be obtainable for the Europa League remaining showpiece as a result of political tensions between Azerbaijan and his native Armenia
Footage has emerged displaying Azerbaijani police stopping two Arsenal followers on the streets of Baku for sporting Henrikh Mkhitaryan shirts.
Gunners followers are within the metropolis forward of Arsenal’s Europa League remaining conflict towards Chelsea on Wednesday night.
Arsenal have confirmed they will be without Mkhitaryan for the all-English European remaining, with the 30-year-old refusing to journey to Baku over the conflict between his country and host nation Azerbaijan.
The identical political tensions noticed him skip the Gunners’ conflict towards Qarabag in Baku earlier this season, whereas additionally they prevented him from taking part in for Borussia Dortmund in a Europa League sport towards Gabala – in northern Azerbaijan – in October 2015.
UEFA have been closely criticised for his or her determination to stage the ultimate in Baku, with Arsenal and Chelsea followers additionally experiencing issues with travel and acquiring tickets to the match.
Nevertheless, talking forward of the match, Arsenal duo Granit Xhaka and Sokratis Papastathopoulos have insisted their team-mate’s absence has supplied them with further motivation to win the Europa League.
“In fact we’re disenchanted he’s not right here however I believe we spoke lots about Mkhitaryan, and a number of political issues, and it’s time to talk about soccer,” Xhaka advised the media on Tuesday.
“He’s essential for us, and we wish to give him a trophy tomorrow.
“We’ve been twice in a row within the Europa League, and a membership like Arsenal needs to be within the Champions League.
“It’s an incredible and necessary sport for us, as a result of we wish to give the membership and the followers the Champions League again.”
Sokaritis, who additionally performed with Mkhitaryan for a number of years at Borussia Dortmund, added: “We’ve had 5 or 6 years collectively, I do know him very properly, we’re good pals.
“So I simply wrote what I really feel. However now we have additionally to play for him and for the gamers who’re injured, and tomorrow if we win this sport, it’s additionally for them.”
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