Arsenal team vs Qarabag: Unai Emery’s side flies for Azerbaijan to take on their Europa League opponents, Qarabag.
Arsenal are enjoying a great run in form as the team is currently on a six-match winning streak across all competitions. Unai Emery’s side are fifth in the Premier League, level on points with city rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Last week, Arsenal also cruised to the next round of the Carabao Cup, after defeating the lower-league side Brentford.
However, the Gunners suffered a setback in the Premier League game against Watford last weekend as Petr Cech suffered a hamstring injury. The club confirmed that their first-choice goalkeeper will be out for at least a month. Ainsley-Maitland Niles and Laurent Koscielny are among the other notable absentees, owing to injury.
The Arsenal team flied for Azerbaijan earlier today, to take on their Qarabag in their second group stage match of the Europa League.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is set to miss the match against Qarabag, owing to political tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Armenian footballer has earlier missed a football match in Azerbaijan during his time at Borussia Dortmund as well.
There have been, however, two more names absent from Arsenal squad in the pictures of players who boarded the plane today. There were no signs of Aaron Ramsey and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang in the Arsenal squad, as they traveled to Azerbaijan.
The talks between Aaron Ramsey and Arsenal for a new contract failed last week, and as things stand, Ramsey will leave Arsenal on a free next year. Aaron Ramsey’s agent has also admitted that the scenario of his client signing a new contract with the club is unlikely.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has struggled with form since the beginning of the new season. The Gabonese striker has scored only two goals in seven Premier League outings so far.
Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette, Lucas Torreira, Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal were all included in the squad for the Europa League clash.
Unai Emery’s side cruised to a 4-2 victory in their first match of the European tournament against Vorskla, with Aubameyang scoring twice for Arsenal.
Arsenal will travel to Fulham in the Premier League this weekend, after which the players will head out for the international break.
