[ad_pod ]UEFA's shambles of a Europa League Final takes place in Baku tonight.The latest incident to occur in Baku is the local police cracking down on Arsenal fans with "Mkhitaryan" on the back of their shirts.The Chief Football Writer for The Times, Henry Winter, has revealed what members of the Gunners faithful are having to experience.

Mkhitaryan has not traveled with the Arsenal squad to Baku because of political tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This has led the Arsenal fan base to react with outrage, and they have come together to support the ex-Borussia Dortmund schemer.

While it may seem like a ridiculous thing for security to ask, it's worth considering that the safety of the Arsenal supporters is at stake here. If an individual was seen wearing a Mkhitaryan shirt by a native radical, the consequences could be ugly to say the least.

Regardless of your interpretation of the security policy concerning Mkhitaryan replica shirts, Winter's tweet emphasises the extent of the shambles this esteemed event has morphed into.

One can only hope that the quality of football on display this evening goes some way to making up for the narrative which has preceded it.