Arsenal opponents Vorskla Poltava threaten to pull out as Ukraine side wrangle over venue change
The game has already been moved from Poltava to Kiev amid security tensions in Ukraine but is now under threat once again
ARSENAL'S Europa League tie against Vorskla Poltava is under threat once again after the Ukrainian club could not guarantee the game will go ahead.
The match was moved from Poltava to Kiev yesterday due to security concerns after martial law was introduced in parts of the country.
And the club's vice-president said the club have not been told by the Olympic Stadium - where Uefa said the game would take place - that it will host the game or how ticketing will be managed.
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine are reaching boiling following the capture of three Ukrainian vessels off the coast of Crimea.
Around 500 Gunners supporters are expected to be in attendance for the game but they were told yesterday to make the 350km journey to the capital, approximately a four-hour drive away.
The club rang every travelling fan individually to ensure they knew where the game was being held.
But the game is under threat after Vorskla Poltava supporters called for a boycott due to the uncertainty in Ukraine.
Vorskla are still awaiting official confirmation from Europe’s governing body and trained as planned on their own snow-covered pitch this morning.
More than 17,000 tickets for the match in Poltava had been sold and Vorskla fans do not know if they will be valid for the Olympic Stadium and will have no way of getting back home after tomorrow night’s match.
But Uefa are adamant that the decision to play the match in Kiev is final, with Arsenal abandoning plans to travel to Kharkiv and then take a 100-mile bus trip to Poltava.
Unai Emery’s squad had been scheduled to train in Poltava this evening but staged their final work-out at their London Colney base this morning instead.
They then flew out directly to Kiev from Luton Airport this afternoon.