If Arsenal refused to contest Europa League showpiece they would generate headlines that may force Uefa into climbdown
Leave no man behind. A code embraced by the US military, it refers to army policy of doing everything and anything possible to avoid abandoning troops behind enemy lines. A commendable dictum, despite the accompanying risks, it is one the Arsenal hierarchy may ponder ruefully as their players and backroom staff set off for next week’s Europa League final, leaving one of their own potentially key troops behind before even arriving at the Baku battlefield.
In the meantime a “letter voicing their concerns” has been dispatched to Uefa and, at a recent media briefing, Unai Emery made all the right noises about the importance of winning the final for Henrikh Mkhitaryan. “Micki”, as he is known to all and sundry at Arsenal, was unavailable to give his take on this Uefa-induced shambles, a conspicuous absentee as he will be on Wednesday night.
Written by Barry Glendenning
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2019/may/23/arsenal-henrikh-mkhitaryan-azerbaijan-baku-europa-league-final under the title “Baku boycott would solve Arsenal dilemma rather than leave a man behind | Barry Glendenning”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
