LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal's Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan will miss the Europa League final against Chelsea in Baku amid fears over his safety.
The 30-year-old's well-being was a concern for Arsenal due to the tense political dispute between Armenia and final hosts Azerbaijan.
The Gunners have decided against Mkhitaryan travelling with the rest of Unai Emery's squad for next Wednesday's game against their London rivals.
"We are very disappointed to announce that Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not be travelling with the squad for our Uefa Europa League final against Chelsea," an Arsenal statement announced on Tuesday.
"We have thoroughly explored all the options for Micki to be part of the squad but after discussing this with Micki and his family we have collectively agreed he will not be in our travelling party."
Azerbaijan's Ambassador to the UK, Mr Tahir Taghizadeh, had insisted Mkhitaryan would be free from any threat of violence, but it was reported the star did not believe he would be safe on the pitch.
"Having considered all the current options, we had to take the tough decision for me not to travel with the squad to the UEL Final against Chelsea," Mkhitaryan tweeted.
Â
"It's the kind of game that doesn't come along very often for us players and I must admit, it hurts me a lot to miss it. I will be cheering my teammates on! Let's bring it home."
Mkhitaryan had featured in 11 games during the Europa League campaign and his absence will be a big blow as Arsenal look for the victory they need to qualify for next season's Champions League.
"We have written to Uefa expressing our deep concerns about this situation," the statement added.
"We're also very sad that a player will miss out on a major European final in circumstances such as this, as it is something that comes along very rarely in a footballer's career.
"Micki has been a key player in our run to the final so this is a big loss for us from a team perspective."
Armenia captain Mkhitaryan skipped the Gunners' Europa League fixture against Qarabag in October because of tensions caused by a dispute over the Nagorny Karabakh region.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have feuded over Nagorny Karabakh since Armenian separatists seized the territory in a war that claimed about 30,000 lives in the early 1990s.
A ceasefire was agreed in 1994 but the two countries remain locked in a bitter dispute with frequent exchanges of fire, and tensions are such that Mkhitaryan also did not travel to Azerbaijan with former club Borussia Dortmund for a Europa League match against Galaba in 2015.
Football: Man City suffer shock Premier League defeat by
SINGAPORE - Singaporean Akbar Nawas has been named the I-League's best coach after leading Chennai City to their first title earlier this month. The Indian team swept seven out of 10 categories at the I-League awards and trophy presentation ceremony at the Taj Corramandel in Chennai on Wednesday (March 20).
Latest AKBAR NAWAS | The Straits Times
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 08, 2019, with the headline 'Guardiola expects twists in title race'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
Guardiola expecting twists and turns in title race
Lionel Messi scores La Liga-clinching goal for Barcelona off
Juventus forward Ronaldo came second in the 2018 Ballon d'Or vote behind his old Real team mate Modric, while Messi was fifth, a ranking met with some consternation at both the Argentine's
Modric criticises Ballon d'Or gala snub by Messi, Ronaldo
A Spanish court on Wednesday acquitted former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, who spent nearly two years in pre-trial custody, of money laundering. Rosell, his wife and four others, were accused of "large-scale money laundering" of close to 20 million euros ($23 million) since 2006, relating to television rights and sponsorship deals in Brazil.
Football: Spain court acquits former Barcelona club president
Tottenham's Harry Kane is fouled by Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga resulting in a penalty during the Carabao Cup Semi Final First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, at Wembley Stadium, in London, Britain, on January 8, 2019.
Kane penalty kick gives Tottenham edge over Chelsea in League
Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City must beat Liverpool on Thursday (Friday morning, AEDT) to sustain their English Premier League title bid. City shook off consecutive defeats to coast past Southampton 3-1 at St Mary's on Sunday, with David Silva and Sergio Aguero
We must beat Liverpool to stay in title race: Guardiola
Richarlison continues to impress but West Ham continue to struggle, while two promising English youngsters shine - Saturday's Premier League talking points.
Premier League talking points: Liverpool go top as Manchester
April 6 (Reuters) - Crystal Palace all but banished any lingering relegation fears as captain Luka Milivojevic fired home a late penalty to secure a 1-0 Premier League victory at Newcastle on
Milivojevic penalty seals Palace win at Newcastle - The
Atletico Madrid moved level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona after Antoine Griezmanns second-half penalty was enough to see off Espanyol 1-0 on Saturday. Griezmann smashed home from the spot 10 minutes after the break to give Diego Simeones side three points from a hard-fought match with m ..
The Prem clubs had backed the introduction of VAR for next term in November. But today's decision to use the available technology to keep match-going fans in the loop are a huge step forward. Refs' chief Mike Riley pushed the initiative believing that giving match-day fans the maximum possible information would ensure that decisions were
VAR is one of the best things to ever happen to football
NICE (REUTERS) - England's Nikita Parris and Ellen White scored first-half goals as the Lionesses defeated neighbours Scotland 2-1 on Sunday (June 9) to make a strong start to their women's World
Soccer: Parris and White strike to give England victory over
Qatar coach Felix Sanchez has vowed to "isolate" his players from politics at the Asian Cup, which is taking place in the United Arab Emirates during a diplomatic crisis between the countries.
Qatar coach to 'isolate' team from Gulf politics at Asian Cup
Guangzhou (AFP) - "Proud" Nico Yennaris became the first foreign-born footballer to represent China when the former Arsenal reserve started in a 2-0 home win over the Philippines on Friday.
London-born Yennaris makes China debut in Philippine win
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
soccer tv live net stream
watch soccer aid live stream
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch premier league live streaming free
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch champions league live stream uk
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch champions league live streaming crictime
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch the premier league live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch the champions league live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer game live now
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch soccer games live stream free
watch live streaming soccer games
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch coppa america live streaming match
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch premier league live stream hd
tv soccer live stream sky
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch premier league live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch champions league live streaming match
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch us soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming uk
#champion #alissonbecker #soccermemes #sixtimes #mancity #bundesliga #bayernmunich #livestreaming #seriea #comics #trollfootball #vandijk #championship #elcasico #linkstreaming #PartyTime #Liamgallagher #bestshishacafedubai #MSport #villarealcf #ignoranza #satira #zidane #oasisengland #kickoff #championsleague #barcelona #leomessi #goal #kopisusu #neymar #manchesterunited #frasirap #oudmehta #ucl #arsenalfantv #Barcelona #freekicks #jadwalbolahariini #petercrouch #cappucino #soccerbible #coffeebreak #chocolatecoffee #oasisandbeatles #liverpoolfc #rugby #livesports #hotcoffee #Suarez #mancityvsliverpool #meunier #oasis #panini #paulmcartney #henderson #boxing #copaamerica #portsmouthfc
No comments:
Post a Comment