Arsenal fans heartbroken by Europa League final problems, reveals club’s managing director

Arsenal fans heartbroken by Europa League final problems, reveals club’s managing director
Arsenal fans have been left ‘heartbroken’ at being unable to travel to Baku to watch their side face Chelsea in the Europa League final, the club’s managing director Vinai Venkatesham has revealed.Ever since the two London clubs qualified for the showpiece final – hosted in Azerbaijan’s capital on May 29 – concerns have been raised over the suitability of the venue.getty2

Azerbaijan’s national team play at the Baku Olympic stadium – the venue for this year’s Europa League final

Both Arsenal and Chelsea expressed disappointment at an allocation of around 6,000 tickets each for the Olympic Stadium, which can hold a capacity of some 69,870.Travel has also proved an issue for those planning to make the round trip of 5,000 miles from London to see their team bid to lift the trophy.UEFA competitions director Giorgio Marchetti has written a letter to Arsenal regarding the issues raised by the club.Venkatesham accepted the decision by UEFA had been taken well before the finalists were known but revealed supporters had been in touch to express their own frustrations.“I would say that, from a club perspective, we are really disappointed that we have ended up in a situation where we are playing in a major European final and, because of travel issues, the maximum number of tickets that can be made available to fans of both clubs is 6,000,” Venkatesham told Arsenal Media.Getty2

Unai Emery could end his first season at Arsenal with silverware

“So we are going to be playing in a stadium that is bigger than Emirates Stadium and both clubs are only going to get 6,000 tickets. It’s hugely disappointing.”Venkatesham added: “We have been receiving calls and letters and much more from fans who are heartbroken because they are not able to go to the final, despite following Arsenal home and away for so many years.”Arsenal continue to work with the Foreign Office after it emerged season-ticket holders with dual British and Armenian citizenship had been denied visas to visit Baku because of tensions with neighbouring Azerbaijan.Gunners midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, captain of the Armenia national team, sat out the Europa League group game against Qarabag in Baku earlier this season. However, Azerbaijan’s ambassador to the UK, Tahir Taghizadeh, maintains there is no cause for concern ahead of the final.Taghizadeh told Sky Sports: “I would say (to Mkhitaryan) ‘you are a pro athlete, you are a footballer, and a class A footballer’, so let’s make sure this is a class A event if our purpose is to make a great final.“If our purpose is to play political games around it, that is something different, but I hope it is not, because you (Mkhitaryan) are being paid as a footballer, not as a politician, so let’s leave other issues aside.”Emery’s squad are currently preparing for the Europa League final, but plans are already in place ahead of the next campaign.The Premier League club announced on Monday that Arsenal Women will play Bayern Munich Women in the pre-season Emirates Cup before Emery’s side take on Lyon in a revamped version of the tournament.

LIVE ON talkSPORT

talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2...

• England Women vs Denmark Women (Saturday, 1pm) talkSPORT
• Newport County vs Tranmere (Saturday, 3pm) talkSPORT
• Charlton vs Sunderland (Sunday, 3pm) talkSPORT

 Arsenal will also meet Major League Soccer side the Colorado Rapids in Denver before then taking part in the International Champions Cup, with fixtures against Bayern, Roma and Real Madrid across three cities in the United States of America.As part of a wide-ranging interview with the in-house club media, Venkatesham maintained Arsenal’s US-based owners were ‘hugely ambitious’ and would continue to support strengthening the squad where possible.“Going back to the earlier question around ownership, all of these initiatives and ideas about how we move the club forward are completely supported by Stan and Josh (Kroenke),” Venkatesham said.“Their direction is quite simple: every single penny that we generate as a football club is available for us to invest against achieving that ambition, and that is the maximum that we can ask from our owners because that is the maximum allowed through the financial fair play rule.”

---

New images have emerged online of Arsenal's potential home shirt for the 2019/2020 campaign - and it has evoked a huge reaction from fans. This season is the Gunners' last in their current kit deal with Puma and they've already signed a money spinning contract with one of the giants of the sports manufacturers - adidas.
'Make this happen!' - Arsenal fans are loving the 'leaked

---

Aston Villa vs Derby Championship play-off final: LIVE and Aston Villa vs Derby: Kick-off time. The Championship Play-Off final will get under way at 3pm on Monday, May 27.. Villa won both games convincingly during the regular season, claiming a 4-0 home talksport.com
How to watch Aston Villa vs Derby: live stream the 2019

---

Chelsea vs Sheffield Wednesday: Gonzalo Higuain makes debut

---

Tottenham Hotspur were revelling in the fact top marksman Harry Kane was back in the starting XI for their trip to Burnley at Turf Moor, but hours later the Spurs fans were sensationally downhearted following a 2-1 defeat to the Clarets, which has seen Spurs quest for Premier League glory take a massive dent. Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood
Match Thread: Burnley vs Tottenham Hotspur [English Premier

---

David Beckham hasn't ruled out the possibility of signing Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo for his MLS franchise Inter Miami. The new team will make their MLS debut in the 2020 season.
Inter Miami owner Beckham won't rule out moves for Ronaldo Messi

---

Martin Glenn resigns as Football Association chief executive

---

PATIENTLY WAITING Oxford made his Premier League debut as a 16-year-old against Arsenal in 2015 Reece Oxford is prepared to wait until the summer to seal a move away from West Ham United and head to Arsenal.
Arsenal want Oxford but are unwilling to match West Ham's

---

Chelsea transfer news: Gonzalo Higuain looks set to join the Blues (Pic: Getty) "You can be sure that Chelsea are scouring the market right now for a long-term solution for their striker issues. Perhaps not this month but definitely for the summer, that's for sure."
Transfer news LIVE: Higuain to Chelsea 'confirmed', Man Utd

---

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has defended Juan Foyth for the mistake which led to Lacazette's goal for Arsenal's third on the day in the North London derby. It can be recalled that the derby ended in defeat for Spurs as Arsenal hit 4 past them, and subsequently leapfrogged them on the Premier League log.
Spurs boss Pochettino defends Juan Foyth after Arsenal loss

---

Apr 27, 2019 · Goals from Mario Vrancic and Marco Stiepermann secure Norwich a 2-1 win against Blackburn and clinch the Canaries Premier League football next season after a promotion he described as "a
Norwich City return to the Premier League

---

Man Utd blow as Jordi Alba signs new five-year Barcelona deal with £428m buy-out clause Jordi Alba could now end his career at Barca with new five year commitment to the club By James Duffy
Jordi Alba contract: Barcelona defender signs five-year

---

Jermain Defoe says there was interest from Crystal Palace in signing him but he wanted a "different challenge" with Rangers. Jermain Defoe says Steven Gerrard played a big part in his decision
Jermain Defoe claims he snubbed Crystal Palace for Rangers

---

Tottenham injury latest: Three stars ruled out Borussia Dortmund clash as Danny Rose also faces late fitness test Mauricio Pochettino has already confirmed it will be 'impossible' for Rose to
Dier, Kane, Rose - Latest Spurs injury news ahead of Dortmund

---

Manchester City news: Premier League champions under

---