HENRIKH MKHITARYAN has been told by Azerbaijan officials that he will be able to enter the country to play in the Europa League final. The Arsenal midfielder’s involvement in the clash with Chelsea in Baku was in doubt because of political tensions between his native Armenia and the host nation. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been […]
HENRIKH MKHITARYAN has been told by Azerbaijan officials that he will be able to enter the country to play in the Europa League final.
The Arsenal midfielder’s involvement in the clash with Chelsea in Baku was in doubt because of political tensions between his native Armenia and the host nation.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been in conflict over issues in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region for three decades.
And Arsenal feared Mkhitaryan, 30, could fall victim to difficult diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The Armenian midfielder was at risk of failing to obtain a visa, which would rule him out of the Europa League final on May 29.
But Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Leyla Abdullayeva insists politics will not stand in his way of helping the Gunners claim the title.
She said: “Many major sports events have been hosted in Azerbaijan, and Armenian athletes have taken part in them. Sports and politics are separate.”
But Arsenal still demand assurances from Uefa over Mkhitaryan’s safety in Baku.
The Gunners ace has already pulled out of two games played in Azerbaijan in the past.
He missed a group stages game against Qarabag in October, with SunSport understanding Mkhitaryan decided not to travel to Baku after his family expressed their concerns.
And he was left at home when Borussia Dortmund travelled to Gabana in 2015 – despite Uefa promises to secure him a visa to play.
Arsenal are desperate to win the Europa League as it remains the only way for the Gunners to secure Champions League qualification for the next season.
