Chelsea vs Arsenal: talkSPORT writers predict who will win the Europa League final
Chelsea and Arsenal make the 2,800-mile trip to Azerbaijan to battle it out for the Europa League final on Wednesday night.The Baku showpiece offers a route into next season’s Champions League for the Gunners – and both managers will be hoping to end mixed debut seasons in England with a trophy.
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4Who will be victorious in Baku?The final takes place against a backdrop of controversy, with UEFA’s decision to host the final in Baku heavily scrutinised.Armenia international Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not travel to Azerbaijan due to fear over his safety, while thousands of tickets have been returned by both clubs due to the cost and logistics involved in the trip.It promises to be an unusual occasion, with so few supporters in attendance, but so much remains at stake. Chelsea have absentees of their own, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Antonio Rudiger all injured – and N’Golo Kante also looks set to miss out.With all that said, our writers have made their predictions…
Sean O’Brien – ArsenalChelsea are missing, arguably, their three best players behind Eden Hazard. Rudiger will prove a particularly big miss against the pace of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.Kante and Loftus-Cheek are the only midfielders who provide any sort of direct thrust – and the Blues risk losing the midfield battle without them.Sarri’s side have a tendency to start slowly, and they also have less motivation than their opponents. Expect Emery’s men to race out of the blocks and grab an early goal.
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4Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could have too much for ChelseaJoe Moore – ChelseaChelsea are extremely annoying. This is known. Even if their form is terrible, their key players playing badly and their manager is burning under the spotlight, they still find a way to win.I reckon they will here, too. Arsenal have greatly improved under Unai Emery this season, but their defence is still not up to scratch.Aubameyang and Lacazette may have something to say about it, but Chelsea may just edge this one.
Joe Coleman – ArsenalDespite reaching two cup finals and securing a quite incredulous third-place finish in the Premier League, Maurizio Sarris job is somehow under threat.The job he has done at Stamford Bridge seems to be completely unappreciated by the fans and the board and it is likely this will be both Eden Hazard and the Italians last game.With such a sombre mood surrounding the Blues, expect to see Europa League specialist Unai Emery weave his magic in Baku once again.
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4Will this be a swan song for Hazard at Chelsea?Josh Fordham – ChelseaThe better of the two teams over the course of the season.Eden Hazard will make the difference in what is likely to be his last game in a Blue shirt.
Jackson Cole – ArsenalI’m going for Arsenal to triumph in Baku especially because manager Unai Emery is the Europa League specialist (winning it three years running as Sevilla boss).Meanwhile, for all his good points, Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri doesn’t actually have a winners’ medal in his entire career in football apart from individual accolades.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette have been pure flames at points this season and Chelsea’s limited defence can be got at by the strikers.N’Golo Kante’s possible absence could be crucial but if Eden Hazard is at his free-flowing best on what is likely to be his farewell Blues appearance, then my prediction of an Arsenal win will probably be wrong!
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4N’Golo Kante is a doubt for ChelseaOliver Dawney – ChelseaThe Blues in Baku have already secured Champions League football and I believe that will work in their favour.Expect Hazard to dazzle in his last game for the club and be instrumental in the victory.
Daniel Sandford – ArsenalArsenal’s strike force will be too much for Chelsea. The pressure is off for the Blues after they finished third in the Premier League.
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