Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is "guaranteed" to be safe at the UEFA Europa League final in Baku, Azerbaijan, according to the Azerbaijan FA's general secretary Elkhan Mammadov.
Mkhitaryan is an Armenia international and there is no diplomatic relationship between the two countries as a result of tension over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. As such, there has been speculation that the Gunners may opt to leave the player out of the travelling party for the showdown with Chelsea on May 29.
Speaking to Sam Dean of the Daily Telegraph, Mammadov said the Azerbaijan FA and UEFA have long considered the prospect of Arsenal making the final and the unique case of Mkhitaryan:
"Our government authorities provided guarantees to UEFA for Mkhitaryan to come to Baku, so there is no issue of security and safety.