Congratulations to Chelsea on winning the Europa League for a second time. I thought Arsenal would win but Chelsea thoroughly deserved it.
The first half was a drab affair. Kick off at 11pm local time did not help matters and it seemed as if the players wanted to go to bed. There was no energy, no intensity, nothing. Arsenal controlled the opening 30 minutes with Granit Xhaka skimming the top of the bar with a cracking effort and had a penalty appeal turned down as Arrizabalaga appeared to trip Lacazette. Chelsea finished the half stronger with Petr Cech making a string of fine saves but neither side looked like scoring.
The second half kicked off and Chelsea were brilliant. Playing with intensity and hard pressing that we expect from a Sarri side, Arsenal were outfought. With the events leading up to the final, I expected Arsenal to be hungry, determined and passionate but then again, this is Arsenal. Giroud broke the deadlock with a header and Pedro doubled Chelsea's lead later on. Even at 2-0, there seemed no way back for Arsenal. Things got even worse when Maintland-Niles stupidly gave a penalty away allowing Hazard to score from the spot. Iwobi did give Arsenal a glimmer of hope with a cracking volley but Hazard scored again to end any comeback.
So, what have we learnt?
- Arsenal are still spineless bottle jobs
- Unai Emery has big summer ahead with a £40 million budget
- Eden Hazard is leaving and
- Sarri has had an exceptionally good first season in charge
Arsenal had to win to qualify for the Champions League but their big players - Lacazette, Aubameyang and Ozil - went missing. Chelsea's big player - Eden Hazard - was at the forefront of the show, signing off with 2 goals and a trophy.
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