Baku

UEFA wants clubs to help fans shoulder the financial burden of travelling to European finals because they have to give tickets to sponsors.

At halftime on Wednesday UEFA threw open the gates to the Europa League final to avoid the spectacle of a half-empty stadium but their president says he has no regrets about holding the game in Baku.

So, it’s finally here, the final match of Arenal’s season all the way out in Baku.

After weeks of waiting, the Europa League final is finally here.

Despite UEFA’s protestations that Henrikh Mkhitaryan would have been perfectly safe to travel to Baku to play in the Europa League final, the experience of Arsenal fans so far says otherwise.

Petr Cech believes that Chelsea will handle the pressure of the Europa League final better than Arsenal because they’ve played in more European finals.

David Luiz believes Chelsea not only need to beat Arsenal to win the Europa League but they also need to overcome Unai Emery which strikes me as being the same thing, but here we are.

Arsenal players will not be able to show any sign of support for Henrikh Mkhitaryan before the Europa League final thanks to UEFA’s rules.

Chelsea will be without N’Golo Kante for the Europa League final on Wednesday evening after picking up a knee injury in training over the weekend.

Arsene Wenger has hit out at the decision to hold the Europa League final in Baku, saying it is the fans who will suffer rather than the teams.

Jose Mourinho has expressed his sympathy to Arsenal and Chelsea fans who are unable to attend the Europa League final in Baku while pointing out there is much more pressure on Arsenal to win the game than his old club.

Arsenal will have around 4,000 fans in Baku while Chelsea were only able to sell approximately 2,000 tickets for the Arsehole of Nowhere Final.

UEFA’s own report stated that Baku was not fit to host the Champions League or Europa League final, claiming that local university dormitories and campsites would be needed to house supporters.

I’m often told that politics has no place in football, but those critics are oddly silent as Arsenal and Chelsea fans struggle to get to a match that a professional footballer won’t play in because he doesn’t feel safe.

Arsenal fans are being warned that the club faces punishment if any fans protest about the farce that is the Europa League final at the match in Baku.

Fanzones. That’s where UEFA want football fans. As far away as possible from the actual football where they might ruin the spectacle beamed around the world with their loutish, working-class behaviour.

Some Arsenal fans are finding themselves unable to attend the Europa League final in Baku, even if they have a ticket and flights booked, simply because of their nationality.

UEFA claim they have given Arsenal assurances over Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s safety should the Armenian travel to Baku for the Europa League final.

Arsenal face some heavy trekking thanks to their Europa League trip to Azerbaijan, but how is it all going to play out?