All is now set for two premier league clubs and London club rivals in the 2019 finals of UEFA Europa Champions League holding in 68, 000 capacity Baku Olympics Stadium in Azerbaijan which is about 6,000 miles around trip from London. While the fans of both clubs have complained bitterly against EUFA for allocating a hand full of 6,000 tickets both clubs; that is 3,000 fans for each but the high cost of going to Baku and from London. This signifies that the fans of both teams will have little or no influence in this game.
Injury list
Chelsea have injuries casualty that Maurizio Sarri will deal with after two sensational academic players in Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus cheek picked up ankle injuries while defender Antonio Rudigar on the list as well N’golo Kante’ in doubt despite travelling with the team yesterday to Baku. This leaves Eden Hazard; who is making his last appearance on blue jersey, Willians and Pedro to lead the wings.
Arsenal will be without the services of their Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the ground of tense political tension and insecurity concern between the host country and his country. Danny Wellbeck is long being on the list since picking up ankle injury last year while Hecto Bellerin and Aaron Ramsey are nursing their knee injuries.
Emery Vs Sarri
For both coaches, it will be a very big opportunity to showcase their football philosophy which almost looks alike. Both managers want to hold the ball and control proceedings but it seems that Emery has boys grinned in his style than Sarri who had complain that his players are finding it difficult to let go of what they knew and adding salt to injury has lifted the trophy on three occasions with Sevilla. The ‘’Sarriball’’ style of player he brought to the league has suffered many set backs from players and coach. If Sarri will change his hand tonight is left to be desired seeing that failure to deliver the trophy to the Blue may cost him his job. One thing common to both coahes is that, they are all making their first season in premier league.
Aubameyang Vs Hazard
With one of the league highest goal scorer among their ranks in Aubameyang who has being very prolific this season with his partnership with Alexander Lacazette, Chelsea defence line will have a lot of work to do to content these players while Chelsea will have only Eden Hazard with his record highest assist and goals in a league season.
Conclusion
Chelsea have no much pressure going into this game haven secured third place in the ended premier league season while Arsenal who finished distance fifth position must lift the trophy tonight if their dream of playing the UEFA champions league next season is viable. The two teams have met once in this European competition and that was in 2004 when Arsenal ran their unbeaten or rather invincible record in the league. Chelsea went to progress with a 3-2 aggregate score. If this record must be repeated by Chelsea, then they must put a 101 percent performance to upturn things.
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