Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Part 3)

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4 Apr 2024

Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Part 3)

Continuing his impressive form, Mkhitaryan netted a brace in Dortmund's 4–0 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the first league game of the season on 15 August 2015. He followed this up with a crucial headed goal in a remarkable comeback victory against Odds BK in the Europa League play-off.
In subsequent matches, Mkhitaryan showcased his scoring prowess, including goals in a 7–1 rout of SC Paderborn 07 and a 4–0 win over Gabala FK in the Europa League.
Mkhitaryan's standout performances throughout the season earned him the Bundesliga Players' Player of the Season award. He finished the league as the assist leader with 15 assists, highlighting his importance to the team's success.

Mkhitaryan's move to Manchester United was highly anticipated, with his debut coming in a pre-season victory against Wigan Athletic on 15 July 2016. He made his competitive debut in the 2016 FA Community Shield, followed by his Premier League debut against AFC Bournemouth on 14 August 2016, becoming the first Armenian to feature in the Premier League.
His first goal for Manchester United came on 8 December 2016 in a Europa League match against Zorya Luhansk. Just three days later, he scored his maiden Premier League goal in a 1–0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, though he suffered an ankle injury during the match. Mkhitaryan returned from injury with a memorable scorpion kick goal against Sunderland, albeit amidst controversy over a potential offside position. Despite a brief injury setback against AS Saint-Étienne in the UEFA Europa League, he played a pivotal role in Manchester United's 2017 Europa League final triumph over Ajax, becoming the first Armenian to win a major European trophy.

Mkhitaryan made an impressive start by assisting in five goals in the first three Premier League matches. He continued his scoring form with a goal against Everton and his first Champions League goal for Manchester United against CSKA Moscow. However, a dip in form led to his omission from the starting lineup in several matches and a subsequent absence from the squad for a period of time.
Despite his intermittent appearances, Mkhitaryan's time at Manchester United included notable contributions and memorable moments, showcasing his talent and versatility on the field.

Mkhitaryan's move to Arsenal from Manchester United was announced on 22 January 2018, part of a swap deal involving Alexis Sánchez. He made an impactful debut for Arsenal, providing three assists in a 5–1 victory over Everton on 3 February 2018. In a match against his former club Manchester United, Mkhitaryan scored Arsenal's only goal in a 2–1 loss at Old Trafford, displaying respect by refraining from celebrating the goal.
During the 2018–19 season, Mkhitaryan continued to showcase his attacking prowess, scoring goals and providing assists for Arsenal. He notably scored a goal and assisted another in a match against Chelsea, although Arsenal lost 3–2. In a game against Southampton, Mkhitaryan scored a brace, contributing to a 3–2 defeat. However, he suffered a metatarsal fracture in the following League Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur.

Upon his return from injury, Mkhitaryan made an immediate impact, tallying two goals and three assists across two matches against Southampton and Bournemouth. However, he found himself at the center of controversy ahead of the 2019 UEFA Europa League Final. Due to political tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Mkhitaryan opted not to travel to Baku for the final match against Chelsea, citing safety concerns. This decision stemmed from previous incidents where he chose not to travel to Azerbaijan for matches with Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal due to similar reasons. Ultimately, Mkhitaryan and Arsenal decided it was best for him not to participate in the final.

After playing three games for Arsenal at the start of the 2019-2020 season, Mkhitaryan joined Italian club A.S. Roma on a season-long loan deal on 2 September 2019. He made an impressive debut for Roma on 15 September, scoring a goal in their 4–2 victory against Sassuolo. However, in late September, Mkhitaryan suffered an injury to his adductor muscle during a match against Lecce, initially expected to sideline him for three weeks.
Mkhitaryan returned to action in late November and made an immediate impact by scoring in his first game back, a 3–1 win over Hellas Verona. He continued his goal-scoring form by netting against SPAL on 12 December 2019, helping Roma climb to fourth place in the Serie A table.
Mkhitaryan suffered a second injury of the season, this time to his thigh muscle, which kept him out of action for another month. Despite the setback, he scored on his return to the squad in a 3–2 loss to Bologna. Mkhitaryan then found the back of the net in consecutive matches against Lecce and Cagliari, contributing to Roma's victories.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is renowned for his versatility and effectiveness in various attacking roles, primarily operating as an attacking midfielder but also capable of playing as a second striker or on the wing. His preferred position is often just behind the strikers, where he excels in linking up play and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates.
One of Mkhitaryan's key strengths is his ability to draw defenders away, creating space for his teammates with his intelligent movement and vision. His precise passing, dribbling skills, and creativity allow him to unlock defenses and provide the final pass for goals. Additionally, Mkhitaryan's ball control, trickery, and work rate make him a formidable opponent in one-on-one situations, while his accurate shooting adds another dimension to his attacking threat.

Throughout his career, Mkhitaryan has earned praise for his hard-working attitude and dedication on the pitch. Tom Jones, the caretaker of the Armenian national team during Mkhitaryan's early years, highlighted his creativity, goal-scoring ability, and work ethic, noting his suitability for the Premier League. Former Scottish footballer Pat Nevin lauded Mkhitaryan's remarkable goal-scoring record during the 2012–13 season, emphasizing his pace, skill, and ability to impact games like Frank Lampard, making him a player to watch out for on the European stage.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been affectionately nicknamed "Heno" (Հենո) by his fans in Armenia, which is a shortened form of his first name, Henrikh. He appreciates the informality of this nickname.

Upon joining Borussia Dortmund, Mkhitaryan was sometimes referred to as "Micki" by international fans. However, he personally expressed his disapproval of this nickname and asked his fans to respect his Armenian family name. Mkhitaryan emphasized his desire for recognition of his roots and homeland, stating that while he respects the traditions of his adopted country, he also wants his own heritage to be respected. Despite this, he later acknowledged that Borussia manager Jürgen Klopp had given him the nickname "Micki" due to the difficulty of pronouncing his surname, and he eventually accepted it.
It's worth noting that Mkhitaryan's verified Instagram account is named "micki_taryan."