Chelsea and Arsenal supporters mix in Baku and party late into the night before Europa League final (which won’t kick-off until 11pm local time!)
- Chelsea and Arsenal supporters mixed in Baku on Tuesday evening
- Those who have made the journey appeared to be having an enjoyable time
- They will have much of Wednesday to do the same given kick-off isn’t until 11pm
- The Olympic Stadium is ready for Chelsea and Arsenal to contest the final
As day turned to night in Baku on Tuesday, Arsenal and Chelsea supporters continued to enjoy themselves as they prepared for the Europa League final.
While their respective teams trained on the pitch at the Olympic Stadium, the fans who had made the mammoth journey from London and beyond drank in many of the city’s old town pubs.
It has largely been an extraordinarily tough last week or two for both sets of supporters who have been forced into forking out thousands for tickets, travel and accommodation.
Chelsea supporters pose with the club’s flag in the middle of Baku on Tuesday night
Arsenal fans party outside a pub in the old town in Baku ahead of the Europa League final
Arsenal fan TV presenter Robbie Lyle stopped for selfies with other supporters in Baku
But now the small number of Arsenal and Chelsea fans are in Baku, they are keen on making the most of their surroundings. Arsenal fan TV presenter Robbie Lyle also stopped for a few selfies with some of the locals.
Indeed, they will also have plenty of time to do so on Wednesday night given kick-off isn’t until 11pm local time.
Sets of supporters appeared to be mixing well and posed for photographs together as the sun set.
Others chose to visit the fan zones that surround the Olympic Stadium. There they were able to show off their colours and wave their flags.
No matter what happens on Wednesday, this will have been a trip many of the supporters will never forget; for the right and wrong reasons.
An Arsenal flag hangs outside on the pubs that many fans chose as their base for the night
Chelsea supporters were also out in force with a number of them holding scarves aloft
They sang songs later into the night in Baku and more are expected to arrive on Wednesday
Those who have taken planes, trains and automobiles on their way to Baku will no doubt have stories to remember and cherish for a lifetime.
But most will talk about how the price of flights to Baku from London skyrocketed when Arsenal and Chelsea won their semi-final matches, and how thousands of tickets went unsold and official travel options cost nearly £1,000.
Even indirect flight options cost over £800, which included a stop-off in Doha, Qatar.
In addition to the travel drama, Arsenal’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan hasn’t made the trip to Azerbaijan and will miss the game amid fears over his safety. UEFA have warned Arsenal that any protests from their fans will not be tolerated.
Plus, it emerged that UEFA’s own report suggested that Baku was not a fit host for the Europa League final.
A woman carries the Azerbaijan flag as she walks along the seafront on Tuesday night
The Flame Towers were all lit up on the evening before the Europa League final
A supporter raises a red flag above his head while singing in the street of Azerbaijan’s capital
The atmosphere in the stadium is likely to be poor given the low number of fans able to attend the fixture.
Last week, both Premier League clubs had plans to send back a combined total of over 6,000 tickets – more than half their original allocations – having only managed to shift 5,500 between them.
The stadium has a capacity of 69,000, and there were initially complaints about the clubs being offered such a small percentage of tickets.
The returned tickets have been put back on general sale, but even now it remains to be seen just how full the stadium will be for the final.
A Chelsea fan is seen wearing face paint in the fan zone in Baku ahead of Wednesday’s final
