Morning all.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has decided against travelling to Azerbaijan for tomorrow’s Europa League fixture against Quarabag FK, just as he did back in 2015 when his old team Borussia Dortmund were drawn against Gabala FK. The people of Armenian are banned from entering Azerbaijan but the country does make exceptions when it comes to sport.
The Azerbaijan Embassy told The Independent that Mkhitaryan’s Armenian nationality “would not influence” a visa application made in his name.
“The decision on granting an Azerbaijani visa to all foreign nationals is subject to certain rules and regulations based on the national legislation and international agreements of Azerbaijan.
“Hence the right way to pose any question should not be whether Henrikh Mkhitaryan will be granted an Azerbaijani visa or not, which can’t be answered in advance as is the case with any country including the UK, but whether his nationality will influence his getting Azerbaijani visa, the answer of which is: No.”
I don’t think I’d bother either if I were him and let’s be honest, if we can’t beat Qarabag FK without him, then we are in a pickle. Should we get to the final though which is also in Azerbaijan, Mkhitaryan might think again. It is what it is I guess and a result of two countries who are in conflict with each other.
Emile Smith-Rowe is back from his little injury problem though, and Kolasinac could be ready now to start his first game for a while. Mavropanos, Koscielny, Maitland-Niles and now Cech, all miss out through injury although the two younger players are expected to be back in training by the end of the month. That’s not long really, not when two weeks of this month are taken up with international fixtures.
So just who are tomorrow’s opponents? You guessed it, I hadn’t a clue so had to look them up. Thank goodness for the internet eh…
Quarabag play their Europa fixtures at the Baku Olympic Stadium which holds sixty odd thousand fans, unlike their own ground which just about copes with five thousand. Whether or not Baku will be at full capacity is anyone’s guess but considering we’re up against the defending Premier League Champions of the country, it might be. Hostile too I bet.
| Tournament | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA Champions League | 30 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 29 | 25 | +4 | 36.67 |
| UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League | 61 | 23 | 15 | 23 | 64 | 72 | −8 | 37.70 |
| UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 12 | −11 | 0.00 |
| UEFA Intertoto Cup | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 | −9 | 25.00 |
| Total | 99 | 35 | 27 | 37 | 96 | 120 | −24 | 35.35 |
They are no strangers to European football but they’ve never gone further than the group stages in this competition. Last season they competed in the Champions League, drawing twice with Atlético Madrid in their group. It was the same this year but somewhere along the line in the qualifying fixtures, results meant they dropped into Europa. I’m still not sure how that all works. Matters not. Sporting Lisbon beat them 2-0 in the opening fixture of this competition so they need to start winning sharpish if they want to go any further.
“Barcelona of the Caucasus” – that’s how the fans refer to our opponents, or the Horsemen. The club is bankrolled by a state-backed holding company Intersun and managed by a guy called Gurban Gurbanov who is Azerbaijans leading international goalscorer. The team is full of international players. Azerbaijan international players.
As for their style of football, we’ll that’s a question the English media asked Gurban Gurbanov last year before his side kicked off against Chelsea in the Champions League. ‘Do your own research’ or something similar was his reply. All I can say is that Conte’s side them beat them 4-0 on the road and 6-0 at Stamford Bridge.
We should be fine then. Don’t get caught out though as it’s an early kickoff. 5.55 uk time. Tomorrow that is.
A bit of gossip.
Piotr Zielinski, a Polish midfielder has been tipped to replace Aaron Ramsey. His name is in the headlines of many football pages. Zielinski is 24 years old, 5’ 10” tall, a regular for both club and country and is valued around the £30 million mark. Here he is in action.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?vl=en&v=0BULJEQ15pw
He looks alright, but then YouTube could make Mustafi look good.
See you in the comments guys….
Good morning Rico, I’d be surprised if the Zeilinski story is true, with the talent we have in midfield there’s no need to bring in an outsider to replace Ramsey.
Welbeck seems to be next in the queue for the exit door. Contract expiring in the summer and no offer on the table.
Oh and Cech is out for a month or more. Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose. 😉
Morning Cicero, me too in fact little in the media is to believed I reckon..
Two of those weeks for Cech will be the break so not so bad. Looking forward to seeing Leno grow though..
Morning all and thanks Rico.
Your knowledge of Carrierbags is impressive !……………………….any team that can hold A Madrid to two consecutive draws must be better than us and lets not forget Carrierbags doing so meant we lost to A Madrid in the EL semis as them two draws probably meant that A Madrid got demoted to last seasons EL, so it`s Carrierbags fault……………..the bastards !…………revenge will be sweet !
Morning all.
I’m sick of Ramsey’s name-who’d have thunk it possible 🙂
We should just be winning and we’d better.
Keep this nice little roll going for as long as we can.
Morning Gooners…
Hey Rico, thanks for that post, it was an interesting read and morning to you.
Seems that we’re going to be Quarabag’s 100th game in european football, that’s a lot of games for a team I’ve not really been aware of before this season.
Apparently Emery has taken a strong squad to Baku, so he isn’t underestimating the Azeri champions. It’s quite a change to how Wenger would approach a game like this, after 22 years of Wengerball we’ve all become a bit conditioned to his ways, but I like Emeryball, it’s different and we needed that as a club, despite the hiccups.
Scott, it isn’t Ramsey who is at fault, he’s just maximising his position, Arsenal messed up under the old regime, but it’s gradually changing, just not quick enough for Aaron, he’s gonna be collateral damage I guess.
I see that Adrien Rabiot is in exactly the same position as Ramsey and has turned down PSG’s last offer, so he could be an option for us to sign this January if Ramsey leaves and he and Emery are familiar having worked together before.
Thanks Kev and morning to you too..
Lc, I did thank the internet 😉
Yeah I understand that, Kev, just that it’s another ongoing saga we seem to be caught up in these last few years, and I hope it’s sorted ASAP.
Apparently Liverpool want Rabiot Kev. But maybe PSG fancy giving Ramsey a go, a swap perhaps..
Welbeck too, he’s free in the summer. Last two hopefully.
Surely Danny should be offered a new contract.
I’d have thought so on current form, he’s certainly one who has benefitted from the changes..
Adam, I’m with you there.
The guy gives 100% every time he plays and seemingly is an wmery type player.
He always creates the opposition problems, as well.
He isn’t on a massive wage and will cost a fair bit to replace.
I don’t get it.
I though that Rabiot was one of the few PSG players who put in a performance against us in preseason Rico, and yeah, Rabiot/Ramsey swap seems a good deal to me…
I know Scott, but in truth it’s an ongoing saga on Facebook, Twitter and NewsNow click bait sites, I personally don’t I’ve a toss, it all passes me by, I’m more interested in who Emery picks tomorrow, but I get your frustration as he’s your boy…
His agent apparently put out a load of Tweets about Ramsey and his situation, no doubt advertising his availability and trying to distance ‘himself’ from any criticism, but he’s fcuked up, we all know it, but that’s life, move on…
Rico. I agree. He seems hungry when he’s playing and I hope the club do their best to try and keep him.
As for Ramsey. I wonder if he really believes that his performances justify the new contract he apparently wanted.
Kev, my utter contempt of agents is well known, and well founded 🙂 🙂
They couldn’t care less about clubs or players.
Kev/Adam, if Aubameyang doesn’t hit some top form soon he could find himself replaced by Welbeck imo..
Agree re Rabiot too…
Spurs 0 – 2 down to Barcelona and it could have been more, they are in danger of joining us in the Europa League.
The Wembley pitch is a disgrace.
Spurs go down 4 – 2 at home to Barca, with Messi getting two and hitting the same post twice with the ‘keeper beaten both times. Did Wenger almost sign him when he was still in nappies? 😉
Messi, Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic………………………you name them Wenger nearly signed them !
Think Spuds have to get 3rd in group to drop into EL, come bottom and they get fcuk all………………I think !………………..but they still have a chance as they still have Inter at home and 2 games against PSV………………………..obviously Barca away !
Not the greatest start for them and I feel gutted as they are our close neighbours, but they still have a chance……………………………………..OK, you do know Im` taking the piss dont you !…………………I hate them !…………………..hahahahahaha
Rico, I’m with Adam as far as Welbeck is concerned, I’d certainly offer him a new contract and maybe that will happen later in the season, as it is I’ve certainly not read anything about Welbeck or his agent agitating for a move.
As much as I’m pleased about Liverpool and Tottenham losing, I really don’t want them dropping into the Europa, so it’s a bit of a mixed bag for me…
Emery’s approach is actually quite refreshing, every game is as important as the next, none of our players can ease up and coast and as Rico commented earlier, if Aubameyang doesn’t get his finger out he might find Iwobi or Welbeck or Mkhitarayan pushing him out of the starting XI.
I’ve certainly noticed that Ozil is working up a sweat these days and enjoying it if his reaction to scoring against Watford is anything to go on…
Kev, there is no doubt Wenger was very stale the past few seasons and it showed-Fergie was able to keep refreshed, probably because he brought in fresh blood every few years amongst the coaching staff and Arsène really stuffed up by not doing that.
A change is as good as a holiday and Emery is certainly a change, and a positive one.
The fans are definitely embracing the club again!!
Good morning all,
No Aubameyang this evening he hasn’t travelled due to “illness”.
Morning guys.
New post up now.
Lacazette ,welbeck iwobi with Eddie on the bench ? Have they al travelled ?