LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal manager Unai Emery says he respects midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan's decision to skip the Europa League final against Chelsea in Baku amid concerns over the player's safety, but host country Azerbaijan says such fears are unfounded. UEFA said a "comprehensive security plan" was in place to ensure Mkhitaryan's safety in Baku. "We very much regret this unwarranted decision taken, as we understand, collectively by Arsenal, the player and his family," the AFFA said. The statement added that Azerbaijan had provided all the necessary guarantees required by UEFA to ensure Mkhitaryan's safety. "He's a big miss for us of course, because he is a really important player," Arsenal defender Stephan Lichtsteiner added.

Source: The Star May 21, 2019 11:05 UTC