Midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has reportedly decided to miss Arsenal's trip to Qarabag FK in the Europa League.

Mkhitaryan would have usually been expected to start in the club's second fixture of the competition, having not been named in the first XI against Watford on Saturday afternoon.

However, the ongoing political conflict between his nation Armenia and Azerbaijan has led to Armenian citizens being currently unable to travel to the other country.

Some sports stars have previously been given special permission to make the trip, but a number of reports have suggested that Mkhitaryan has opted to remain in England.

Manager Unai Emery had previously said that he hoped to have the playmaker available for selection, but it has been claimed that Mkhitaryan's decision has been fully backed by Arsenal.