The two English Premier League sides will compete in the Europa League final in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan on May 29.
Despite being thousands of miles away from their London home grounds (and only 13km apart!), less than 6,000 tickets each have been allocated to the supporters of both the Gunners and the Blues whom are expected to flock in their thousands to the South Caucasus for the chance to see their side lift a European trophy.
But the British Foreign Office has issued a warning to British fans planning to head east about a ‘likely’ attack.
“Attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners, such as international hotels, restaurants and pubs, as well as energy sector facilities” the Foreign Office wrote.
“You should take sensible precautions” it warns.
UEFA had selected Baku as the venue for the final back in 2017, long before anyone could have predicted two of English football’s biggest teams would make the final – but that has not stopped critics from questioning the decision.
Azerbaijan’s capital is the architectural love child of Paris and Dubai…albeit with plenty of Soviet genes floating half-hidden in the background.
At its heart, the Unesco-listed Old City (İçəri Şəhər) lies within an exotically crenelated arc of fortress wall. Around this are gracefully illuminated stone mansions and pedestrianised tree-lined streets filled with exclusive boutiques. In the last decade, countless towers have mushroomed, dwarfing or replacing tatty old Soviet apartment blocks. Some of the finest new builds are jaw-dropping masterpieces.
