Last week it was confirmed that Mkhitaryan would not be part of the Gunners' travelling squad for the Europa League final against Chelsea.

Armenians are not allowed to enter Azerbaijan because of the long-running conflict between the two countries, who have had no relations since the Nagorno-Karabakh war in 1994.

Though they explored different options, after speaking with the player and his family, Arsenal decided against including him in their squad over fears for his safety.

And extraordinarily, things continue to be an absolute farce as a day before the game, two Gooners with 'Mkhitaryan #7' on the back of their shirts in Baku were stopped by local police for a chat.

While they aren't heavy handed, it's a joke that we're even in a position where fans are stopped just for having one of their favourite players on the back of their shirts.