Sokratis wants Arsenal to win the Europa League for Mkhitaryan

Arsenal defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos has urged the club to win the Europa League for Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Mkhitaryan won’t travel with the Arsenal squad to Baku due to safety concerns. Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan which has a dispute with Armenia, Mkhitaryan’s motherland. Hence, Mkhitaryan will have to miss the final.

Sokratis has said that Mkhitaryan’s absence is a big blow to Arsenal and he wants to club to win the title for him. The Greek defender said, “Of course it’s a big loss for us. We are very sad and now we have to win for him. We have to go (there) and play our game. To believe we can do it and I think if we give 100 per cent and have a good day, and also luck, because in one game anything can happen (then) we can do it.”

Speaking about Chelsea, Sokratis said, “They have very good players (and) a good manager. We respect (them) but after we plan to play our game. To play our game, to create our chances, to be focused, to defend well. To play altogether and in the end to win the game – it’s difficult for us, but it’s also difficult for them.”