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Henrikh Mkhitaryan to wear No77 shirt for Arsenal in Europa League as Santi Cazorla is a surprise inclusion in Arsene Wenger’s squad
ARSENAL have revealed their Europa League squad for the knockout stage with some surprise twists.
New arrival Henrikh Mkhitaryan will wear number 77 while Santi Cazorla is added despite a horrific series of injury setbacks.
Also joining the fold for the Gunners will be Konstantinos Mavropanos the young Greek centre-back who entered Emirates Stadium this winter.
Mkhitaryan will have to double up on his Number 7 shirt and wear 77 – thanks to Alexis Sanchez.
A bizarre Uefa rule insists two players cannot wear the same shirt number in the same campaign.
Cazorla made a shock appearance in the Gunners revealed squad after fears he could lose his foot.
The Spain international has been sidelined since October 2016 following an ankle injury in a Champions League game.
A minor Achilles injury was due to set Cazorla back three weeks at the end of 2016 before infections saw his recovery spiral out of control.
Since then he has undergone ten operations and suffered a series of infections – though the 33-year-old has vowed to make a comeback.
An appearance at the Europa League could be his first run out on the pitch in 16 months.
Club record signing Pierre-Emrick Aubameyang won’t feature in the squad – due to another Uefa rule.
Since his former club Borussia Dortmund dropped down into the same competition, the forward will not be able to play for Arsenal – despite not playing in it already this season.
Arsenal will take on Ostersund on Thursday February 15 and again a week later in the round of 32.