UEFA have ensured Arsenal there will be adequate security arrangements for Henrikh Mkhitaryan in Baku in the Europa League final.
The Gunners thrashed Valencia in the semifinal and are scheduled to face Chelsea on May 29. There have been growing tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenian and Mkhitaryan wasn’t a part of the travelling squad that visited Azerbaijan previously during Arsenal‘s group stage match against Qarabag.
Relation between the two countries is so low that they currently don’t share any diplomatic relations. It remains to be seen whether they permit a visa to Mkhitaryan who happens to be an Armenian resident.
But an Azerbaijan Foreign ministry spokesperson cleared the air and insisted the attacker will be welcomed to Azerbaijan wholeheartedly. “many major sports events have been hosted in Azerbaijan, and Armenian athletes have taken part in them. Sports and politics are separate.”
UEFA also ensured Mkhitaryan won’t face any problem during the course of his stay in the country. “Assurances were sought on this matter by UEFA and Arsenal FC, with the Azerbaijan Football Association confirming that there would be no problem for the player in question to enter and stay in Azerbaijan and that all necessary security measures would be in place.”
