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The Azerbaijan FA says there is "no issue" over Henrikh Mkhitaryan's safety should he arrive in Baku for Arsenal's Europa League final against Chelsea , although the Gunners are still unlikely to include the Armenian in their squad.

There are no diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia due to the conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and Mkhitaryan was left out of the Gunners' squad for the Europa League group stage game against Qarabag in the Azerbaijani capital in October for his own safety.

Some Arsenal season ticket holders of British-Armenian descent have also been denied visas to enter the country for the final, with the decision to hold the match in Baku having been widely condemned.

But Elkhan Mammadov, the general secretary of the Azerbaijan FA, says that procedures have been in place to deal with the Mkhitaryan issue for weeks.

(Image: REUTERS)

“Our government authorities provided guarantees to Uefa for Mkhi to come to Baku, so there is no issue of security and safety,” he told the Daily Telegraph .

“Even before Arsenal qualified for the final, we received a request from Uefa to provide the guarantees, our state authorities provided all the necessary security arrangements for Mkhitaryan to travel to Baku. All the safety and security is already guaranteed.”

Arsenal received similar guarantees before that group match in Baku, and having given them little attention back then they seem unlikely to put the player at risk.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

With both clubs having received just 6,000 tickets for the match each, Mammadov added that supporters criticising the cost and travel arrangements to get to Baku should travel to the city earlier in the week, reducing the strain on the airport.

“The majority [of supporters] are trying to find a ticket where they come on matchday and leave the next morning, so they can save on hotels and accommodation which is understandable,” he said.

“This is what fans all over the world used to do when it’s in a neighbouring country or of a close geographical vicinity. In our case I would suggest the fans come early and enjoy the city of Baku.”