Arsenal boss Unai Emery has taken a strong squad to Azerbaijan for their Europa League meeting with Qarabag.
But one man missing from the Arsenal squad is Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The playmaker was left out of the squad which travelled to Baku due to the diplomatic tensions exist between Azerbaijan and Mkhitaryan’s native Armenia following a long-standing conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory.
Mkhitaryan could have been allowed into the country with exceptions often made for sportsmen and entertainers.
He cannot travel here,” Emery said.
“We are here, the players with the best mentality and preparation and possibility to play tomorrow.
“My work is football. 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.”
Qarabag manager Gurban Gurbanov appeared to taunt Arsenal over their decision to leave Mkhitaryan at home.
“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.”
Aaron Ramsey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also didn’t travel.
Ramsey was given special dispensation to miss the trip as his wife is expecting twins, while Aubameyang is ill, according to Emery.
Predicted Arsenal team vs Qarabag
(4-2-3-1) Leno; Lichtsteiner, Sokratis, Holding, Kolasinac; Elneny, Guendouzi; Welbeck, Ozil, Iwobi; L
acazette.