Arsenal have returned 2,300 unsold Europa League final tickets to UEFA ahead of their clash with Chelsea in Baku on May 29.
On Thursday it was reported that Chelsea and Arsenal could return a combined total of 6,000 tickets, with many supporters opting not to make the near 5,500-mile round trip to the final in Azerbaijan.
There has been considerable criticism of the choice of venue and logistics surrounding the final at Baku's Olympic Stadium; the two competing clubs' grounds situated just under 10 miles apart in London.
Arsenal wrote to UEFA expressing their disappointment with the decision to keep Baku as the host city for the final.
Midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not play on May 29 because of doubts over his status as an Armenian national in Azerbaijan; despite assurances of his safety from the Azerbaijan UK ambassador and the country's FA.
UEFA responded to Arsenal and Chelsea's grievances, stating that they would help find "cheaper solutions" for fans travelling to the Olympic stadium, which has a capacity of 69,870.
unhappy
123
All in Europe 🤣 countries with more than one tiny airport aswell. There’s barely any flights to Baku as well as the prices of hotels tickets being ridiculous. Istanbul etc are all affordable for most people, Baku isn’t. It’s closer to India than England ffs
redboy21
75
Arsenal should have bought the tickets and then left big gaps in stadium. As it stands they will be given to anyone to make the final look a sell out. Gotta love UEFA.