Arsenal's game with Vorskla Poltava set to go ahead as scheduled | OneFootball

UEFA say Arsenal’s Europa League clash with Vorskla Poltava will go ahead as planned on Thursday despite the worrying political situation in Ukraine.

The Premier League club are liaising with European football’s governing body and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) following the Russian capture of three Ukrainian vessels off the coast of Crimea on Sunday.

Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has described the move as an “act of aggression” and subsequently called proposed a 30-day period of martial law in the country, which would give the military control over normal civilian functions of government.

But UEFA have confirmed that this will not affect Thursday’s match and insist that “all the necessary security measures will be undertaken” in Poltava, which is approximately 200 miles east of Kiev.

The Gunners’ travelling supporters have been urged to “be aware of the current political situation and avoid any action or chanting that could provoke a hostile reaction”.

They’re also advised to wrap up warm, as temperatures are expected to fall as low as -13 degrees on Thursday evening.

Unai Emery’s side have already booked their spot in the Europa League knockout phase and with a huge north London derby meeting with rivals Tottenham coming up at the weekend, several first-team stars are expected to be rested for the 3,000-mile round trip to Ukraine.

Because there are no airports in the area, the squad will be forced to fly to Kharkiv on Wednesday morning before they make a two-hour journey to Poltava by coach.

What a palaver.