Chelsea have been crowned the 2019 Europa League Champions after thrashing their London neighbours Arsenal by 4-1 in Baku to lift the cup.
The Wednesday final in Baku Azerbaijan, saw Arsenal’s hope of qualifying to next season’s UEFA Champions League swept off the Sea of Baku, as manager Unai Emery who had collected Europa Leagues every time he stepped on the big stage, lost the tactical battle so early in the second half, as he could not stop Sarri and his boys from over running his team. He was even the last man to come out the dressing room for the second half, and 6-minutes or so to the second half, Chelsea slot in their first goal through an ex-gunner, Olivier Giroud’s superb header.
The game was evenly balanced in the first half, with Arsenal having more of the ball and attempts, but all that changed in the second half, as Chelsea with the magician Eden Hazard who was probably playing his farewell game for Chelsea on the night, took control of the game, giving two assists, and netting a brace himself to complete his Chelsea mission with Gold.
Pedro and Giroud also got on the score sheets, and it could have been more if not for the superb efforts from goalkeeper Cech, as Chelsea had more attempts on target than Arsenal who forgot they were playing a final!
Alex Iwobi introduction in the second half kind of changed the game for Arsenal, bringing in some believe and urgency. He got a consolation goal at the end, which was the only fantastic thing Arsenal and Unai Emery did on the night in Baku Azerbaijan.
Arsenal were poor on the night, as the likes of Aubameyang, Ozil and Lacazette who before the game were confident of a victory against Chelsea, but the three of them ended up becoming passengers and ball watching through out the game. They will now repeat the Europa League next season with Manchester United, having finished 5th in the English Premier League and failing to win the Europa League.