Danny Welbeck joins Arsenal team-mates having not played this YEAR as Gunners set off for Europa League final in Baku five days early

ARSENAL stars were in high spirits as they jetted off to Baku ahead of their Europa League final against Chelsea.

Unai Emery’s side flew out from London Luton Airport five days before their European showdown against their rivals in Azerbaijan.

Although the Gunners would secure a spot in next season’s Champions League with a win, the players seemed very relaxed.

The likes of Lucas Torreira and Alex Iwobi were pictured smiling as they prepared to board the plane ahead of a six-hour long flight.

Meanwhile, Danny Welbeck who hasn’t played this year after breaking his ankle last November, has won the race to be fit and is likely to start from the bench against Chelsea.

It would also represent Welbeck’s last appearance for the north London outfit, as the 28-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, however, was not part of the travelling part due to safety concerns.

Emery, 47, who is aiming to lift the Europa League for the fourth time as a manager has been advised by Tony Cascarino NOT to start Petr Cech against the Blues.

He said: “Petr Cech should not play in the Europa League final for Arsenal.

“Not because he is due to join their opponents Chelsea as a sporting director but because, at this stage in his career, he is a far inferior player to their No1 goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

“I’d almost go so far as saying that if a manager picks a second-choice goalkeeper in a game of such magnitude then it is a sackable offence. It’s total negligence.

“There is so much on the line: a major trophy and the glory that brings to the club and its fans, Champions League qualification, the money you get from reaching that competition.

“Winning will have a huge impact on the calibre of new signings Arsenal will be able to attract in the transfer window. You simply cannot justify picking Cech with so much at stake.”