Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Aaron Ramsey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are all set to miss out on Arsenal’s clash with Qarabag on Thursday, for various different reasons.
The majority of Arsenal’s squad travelled to Azerbaijan earlier this week, to train at the Olympic Stadium ahead of their Europa League match there. However, Mkhitaryan, Ramsey and Aubameyang all stayed at home.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Mkhitaryan’s absence is no surprise. Reports started to surface at the time of the group stage draw that Azerbaijan wouldn’t allow Mkhitaryan into the country for the match, due to tensions between the country and the Arsenal man’s homeland of Armenia.
Unai Emery had this to say about the situation: “He (Mkhitaryan) cannot travel here. We are here, the players with the best mentality and preparation and possibility to play tomorrow.”
Aaron Ramsey
Despite all the controversy about Ramsey’s contract situation at the moment, he’s actually been left at home for a completely different reason. Emery told the media that the Welshman requested to stay in London because of his wife’s advancing pregnancy.
“Aaron Ramsey asked me if he can stay in London because his wife is pregnant and they are waiting on the doctors,” Emery explained.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang’s case is much more straight-forward. He’s fallen ill and is therefore unfit for the match. In all honesty, it wasn’t absolutely necessary for him to take part in this clash anyway, with another Premier League match at the weekend.
“Monday and Tuesday, Aubameyang was sick and he cannot travel to play tomorrow,” Emery said.