Arsenal supporters in Baku were on high alert in the build-up to tonight’s final as police stationed outside the city’s fanzones were checking shirts for Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s name.
The Gunners winger opted against travelling to the region due to tensions between Azerbaijan and his home country Armenia.
Mkhitaryan was granted a visa and given assurances over his security but decided it was unsafe — and there were reports this morning of Gunners fans witnessing a minor version of the difficulties he may have faced.
Supporters attempting to enter the UEFA fanzone were stopped by police and asked to reveal the back of their shirts to ensure Mkhitaryan’s name wasn’t displayed.
It follows a video widely circulated on social media last night of two fans wandering through the city centre adorned in Mkhitaryan shirts, only to be stopped and briefly questioned by police.
Both Uefa and Arsenal were contacted by Standard Sport but were unavailable for comment.
