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.
LIVERPOOL, England (REUTERS) - Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp concedes he faces a selection dilemma as centre back Dejan Lovren is unlikely to feature against Bayern Munich in Tuesday's (Feb 19
Liverpool's Lovren unlikely to face Bayern, says Klopp
Mauricio Pochettino feels his two-match touchline ban for confronting referee Mike Dean is "completely unfair". Tottenham boss Pochettino was seen arguing at length with Dean following a 2-1
Mauricio Pochettino labels two-game touchline ban 'completely
Mauricio Pochettino labels two-game touchline ban 'completely unfair' - Mauricio Pochettino isn't happy in the slightest Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has hit out at the FA by labelling their decision to hand him a t - March 7th, 2019
"My Touchline Ban Completely Unfair" - Tottenham Boss
Trust in players crucial: Nazri, Football News & Top Stories
Football Association of Singapore (FAS) are set to announce Australian Joe Palatsides as its new technical director, according to reports coming in from Singapore. The Straits Times are reporting
Football: New FAS technical director Joseph Palatsides aims
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 EUR 20 million (USD 23 million) since 2006, relating to television rights and sponsorship deals in
Spain court acquits former Barcelona president of money
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola predicts his side will "suffer" against fourth-tier Newport County in their FA Cup fifth round match on Saturday but has urged his players to adapt to a battered playing surface at Rodney Parade.
Guardiola expects Man City to suffer in tricky trip to Newport
The power behind the 'baby-faced assassin': Beautiful wife of new Man United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who met him when they were both football training and their three children who don't even
Watch NFL overseas, legally through the Internet . By and overseas U.S. personnel are no longer at the mercy of AFN to get their NFL football. Trump says transgender people banned from
Moscow fairytale comics to help migrants 'behave' - BBC News
The third edition of the annual China Cup featuring four teams from two confederations will be held from March 21 to 25 in Nanning, Guangxi. The 32-year-old is expected to miss between 10 and 15 days after limping off late in the recent 4-1 win at Real Betis in La Liga.
Injured Suarez to miss China Cup for Uruguay | Sport24
PARIS, June 7 (Reuters) - France got off to a perfect start in the women's World Cup as the hosts beat South Korea 4-0 in the opening game at the Parc des Princes on Friday. Eugenie Le Sommer and
Football: France make light work of South Korea in World Cup
Super-sub Andre Gray sends Watford into FA Cup semis Gray has scored the winner as a substitute three times in recent weeks FIFA backs 48-team World Cup in 2022 MIAMI: MIAMI: FIFA moved a step
Football news - Wolves beat Bournemouth in their best top
Palace rout Leicester to step up pressure on Puel. msn back to msn home sport. Football A-League Palace rout Leicester to step up pressure on Puel
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch english premier league live streaming
watch premier league games live stream
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch the premier league live stream
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming tv
free watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
free watch soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch coppa america live streaming vivo
watch premier league live streaming online
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch soccer live stream links
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch champions league live streaming jamaica
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch soccer live stream apk
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch soccer am online live streaming
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch soccer aid live stream
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch the champions league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch premier league live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch soccer live streaming mobile
watch premier league live stream hd
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch champions league live streaming crictime
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch champions league live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch usa soccer live stream
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch champions league live streaming match
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch soccer game live espn
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
soccer tv live net stream
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
#comics #footballschedule #portsmouthfc #nutmeg #vip #mane #tokyo #trollfootball #soccerbible #Barcelona #coutinho #premierleague #knuckleball #championsleague #insegreto #midnight #serieatim #barcelona #ucl #realmadrid #alissonbecker #lovefootball #oasisengland #calciatoribrutti #londoncity #bayernmunich #bayern #cristiano #hoffenhiem #oasis #Bar #petercrouch #beatifulgame #thebeatles #championship #commentimemorabili #gooners #league1 #goal #manchestercity #adidasslipon #manchesterunited #frasirap #linkstreaming #Sunday #livestreams #manchestercity #meunier #Celtic #soccer #fcbarcelona #afcnews #manchestercity #vandijk #MSport #valcea #lfc #nikesoccer #ballondor #liverpoolcity #firmino #panini #oasisofficial #liverpoolfans #livestreaming #football #freekickerz #livesports #zidane #Vip45 #kroenkeout
0 Comments