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Europa League final: Chelsea vs Arsenal |
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|---|---|---|
| Venue: Baku Olympic Stadium, Azerbaijan | ||
| Match time: Fulltime | ||
CHELSEA |
ARSENAL |
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| 4 | SCORE | 1 |
One of Europe’s big two club competitions reaches its final, as an all-English rivalry ignites in Baku between Chelsea and Arsenal. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 5am (AEST).
It’s been all English clubs in Europe regional club competitions this year, with Tottenham and Liverpool also set to contest the UEFA Champions League final on Sunday morning (AEST).
Chelsea come into this final looking for some silverware, but the ultimate advantage of winning the contest is usually qualification for the following season’s Champions League.
Given Chelsea are already there after finishing third in the Premier League this season, the thought from some fans is that they may be well below their best for the huge clash in Baku after a 62-match season which has left them, by their own admission, tired.
Chelsea had a fairly solid season, but they were never in the same ballpark as Liverpool and Manchester City, who ran away with the Premier League in a two-horse race.
They are sweating on the fitness of key man N’Golo Kante ahead of the match, and it’d be a significant boost to their hopes if he was fit.
Arsenal, on the other hand, having finished fifth in the Premier League, will be back in the Europa League here unless they can claim the trophy, so there should be absolutely no excuses offered from their camp, motivation-wise.
The gunners were in fine form during their two-leg semi-final mauling of Valencia, winning 3-1 and 4-2, and it’s the form of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette up front which should have the man from Stamford Bridge more than a little bit worried.
After a rough Premier League finish, the Gunners have plenty to prove, and will likely look to play a high-tempo game with an eye to an early lead.
Maurizio Sarri’s side, on the other hand, needed a penalty shootout to get to this stage of the competition and only conceded 39 goals during the Premier League this year, but they also had the lowest amount scored across the top six.
If they do fall behind, it will take an adventure away from Sarri-ball style to grab the win.
Prediction
Arsenal have too much to play for. The fitness of Kante is a major concern, and the Gunners should be crowned Europa League champions.
Arsenal 2 – Chelsea 1.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the 2019 Europa League final from 5am (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Kick-off: 5am (AEST)
Venue: Baku Olympic Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan
TV: Not available
Online: Live, Optus Sport
Betting: Chelsea $2.40, Arsenal $3
Overall record in all competitions: Played 198, Arsenal 76, Chelsea 63, drawn 58
Last meeting: Sat Jan 19, 2019 (English Premier League) – Arsenal 2 defeat Chelsea 0 at Emirates Stadium
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)
Chelsea (squad)
1. Kepa Arrizabalaga (GK), 13. Willy Caballero (GK), 31. Robert Green (GK), 2. Antonio Rudiger, 3. Marcos Alonso, 5. Jorginho, 6. Danny Drinkwater, 7. N’Golo Kante, 8. Ross Barkley, 9. Gonzalo Higuain, 10. Eden Hazard, 11. Pedro, 12. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, 17. Mateo Kovacic, 18. Olivier Giroud, 20. Callum Hudson-Odoi, 21. Davide Zappacosta, 22. Willian, 27. Andreas Christensen, 28. Cesar Azpilicueta, 30. David Luiz, 33. Emerson Palmieri, 42. Marco van Ginkel, 44. Ethan Ampadu
Arsenal (24-man travelling squad)
1. Petr Cech (GK), 19. Bernd Leno (GK), 44. Deyan Iliev (GK), 4. Mohamed Elneny, 5. Sokratis Papastathopoulos, 6. Laurent Koscielny, 8. Alexandre Lacazette, 10. Mesut Ozil, 11. Lucas Torreira, 12. Stephan Lichtsteiner, 13. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 15. Ainsley Maitland-Niles, 17. Alex Iwobi, 18. Nacho Monreal, 20. Shkodran Mustafi, 23. Danny Welbeck, 25. Carl Jenkinson, 29. Matteo Guendouzi, 31. Sead Kolasinac, 34. Grant Xhaka, 49. Eddir Nketiah, 59. Joe Willock, 66. Xavier Amaechi, 87. Bukayo Saka
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this morning on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2019 Europa League final. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back at 7pm (AEST) this evening for the start of the Cricket World Cup as England take on South Africa. You can also join us on Sunday morning when Karlo brings you live coverage of the UEFA Champions League final between Liverpool and Tottenham from 5am (AEST). Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the first half Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Chelsea have put in a stunning second-half performance to run away with a 4-1 victory over Arsenal in the 2019 Europa League Final. Arsenal had more to play for, with this being their final chance at qualifying for the Champions League next year, but their second half was disjointed and sloppy, allowing Chelsea to run away with the contest. The Gunners had the better of the game during the first half an hour, but couldn't make any of their possession, territory, or chances count for anything. Chelsea slowly fought their way back into the game, but by the end of the first half, the deadlock still remained, and neither team looked close to breaking it. It took just four minutes in the second half for the first goal to arrive though as a wonderful header from Olivier Giroud found it's way past Petr Cech. The floodgates then opened for Chelsea, who quickly raced out to a 3-0 lead with goals to Pedro and Eden Hazard. Arsenal's defence went from bad to worse, and it was clear at 3-0 down, that it was going to take something of a miracle. Arsenal sparked a brief revival for themselves with a wonderful Alex Iwobi volley getting them their first goal, but another defensive breakdown led to a second goal for Hazard, who put the game beyond doubt. Chelsea 4 Arsenal 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME That's it. The final whistle blows in Baku, and it's been a complete and utter domination in the second half from Chelsea as they take home the Europa League trophy. Chelsea 4 Arsenal 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 1' - Well, if one play could sum up the second half for Arsenal, that's it. A ball across the box from Iwobi, then it was flicked back across the face of goal. A more or less easy put away there, but Lacazette just puts it straight into a teammate, before the ball heads behind for a goal kick. Chelsea 4 Arsenal 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 1' - Three minutes of stoppage time The corner is taken short, and the follow-up cross isn't a great one. Cleared easily by the Chelsea defenders. Chelsea 4 Arsenal 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
90' - Corner coming up for Arsenal. Chelsea 4 Arsenal 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
89' - Hazard is done for the evening, and possibly his career at Chelsea then as he heads to the bench. He is replaced by Davide Zappacosta for the final minutes. Chelsea 4 Arsenal 1
amband
Roar Rookie
the mob at Arsenal TV on youtube with be seething with anger after the match
Scott Pryde
Expert
88' - Hazard has gone down here. He doesn't look in a good way. Chelsea 4 Arsenal 1
amband
Roar Rookie
Christ almighty!
Scott Pryde
Expert
86' - Lacazett to take this free kick then, and he has a shot, but it's over the crossbar and doesn't really challenge Kepa at all. Chelsea 4 Arsenal 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
86' - Now Arsenal push down the left-hand side, and a heavy challenge from Giroud on Xhaka will see a free kick awarded to the trailing side. Chelsea 4 Arsenal 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
85' - Into the final five minutes of this match we go, and you can just feel the intensity dropping out of it ever so slightly. Arsenal back through their defence at the moment. Chelsea 4 Arsenal 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
83' - Iwobi on the attack here for Arsenal and a shot is taken in the end there by Willock, but that just goes across the face and misses, continuing the unhappy second half for the Gunners. Chelsea 4 Arsenal 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
82' - How have Arsenal not managed to score there? They had a corner, and the ball got fired in, with Kepa only deflecting the first shot into the path of more Arsenal players, then a shot was blocked, and another one to follow. Arsenal were offside anyway. Late flag, that. Chelsea 4 Arsenal 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
81' - Chelsea want more. They want this to be a humiliation. Hazard with a ball to Azpilicueta in space this time after the short corner, but his shot just goes across the face and misses to the far side. Chelsea 4 Arsenal 1
amband
Roar Rookie
how can we get rid of Ozil?
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - That was some splendid lead-up play there from Chelsea, and Arsenal are looking just about out of energy through the middle. Willian got onto the through ball, and his shot was blocked behind for a corner. Chelsea 4 Arsenal 1
amband
Roar Rookie
when will Arsenal buy decent defenders. They have the firepower, but no defence. The need experienced EPL defenders. Arsenal have an aversion to defence, and it's defence that wins games