Football Features

    Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal: Every player rated as Hazard signs off in style

    By Steve Jennings

    Published: 22:08, 29 May 2019

    Chelsea thrashed Arsenal in the Europa League final to consign the Gunners to another appearance in this competition next season.

    Goals from Olivier Giroud, Pedro and Eden Hazard, who was on the scoresheet twice in what may have been his final game for Chelsea, sealed the win for the Blues.

    https://audioboom.com/posts/7273460-five-things-we-think-will-happen-in-the-2019-champions-league-final-and-in-the-europa-league

    In truth, it could have been more than four. Arsenal pulled one back through a sublime Alex Iwobi volley, but Chelsea were by far the better team.

    Here’s how every player rated on the night.

    Chelsea

    Kepa Arrizabalaga – 7 – A little uncertain from crosses in the early stages and almost gave a penalty away. Was hardly tested in the second half and could do little about Iwobi’s powerful drive. Saved well from Alexandre Lacazette late on.

    Cesar Azpilicueta – 7 – Dragged all over the place in the first half because nobody tracked Sead Kolasinac’s runs. Soon settled and was still flying in with blocks in stoppage time. A professional outing from the skipper.

    Andreas Christensen – 8 – Kept Arsenal’s fearsome front two quiet with a dominant centre-back display. Recovered the ball six times, more than any Chelsea player.

    David Luiz – 7 – Brilliant in the air, making two headed clearances and three overall. The Brazilian also won all three of his defensive aerial duels, preventing Arsenal from finding another way to score.

    Emerson Palmieri – 7 – Made himself a constant outlet down the left and provided the assist for Giroud’s goal with an accurate low cross. Proved why Sarri has been picking him ahead of Marcos Alonso.

    N’Golo Kante – 7 – Wasn’t his usual mobile self but still moved the ball quickly and effectively when it came his way. Managed for 90 minutes despite having a 50/50 chance of playing going into the game.

    Jorginho – 7 – Solid at the base of Chelsea’s midfield, keeping the ball well and starting attacks. Won seven of his 10 tackles, more than any other player on the pitch.

    Mateo Kovacic – 8 – One of Kovacic’s more incisive, decisive performances in a Chelsea shirt. Drove further forward than his fellow midfielders – perhaps a result of Kante’s lack of fitness – and played his part in a free-flowing attack moves.

    Pedro – 8 – The quietest of Chelsea’s front three but his goal, the Blues’ second, was arguably the most important as it handed Maurizio Sarri’s side control.

    Olivier Giroud – 9 – Threatened to open the scoring on three occasions before he actually did with a clever glancing header, his 11th goal of the Europa League campaign. Won the penalty and set up Hazard’s second with a glorious chip to really sub salt in Arsenal’s wound.

    Eden Hazard – 9 – Sporadically impressed in the first half, took the proverbial in the second. The Real Madrid target made use of the ball every time he received it, creating five chances – more than any other player – which culminated in a composed assist for Pedro’s goal. Sent Cech the wrong way with his penalty and took the fourth sweetly.

    Substitutes

    Ross Barkley – N/A – Galloped forward with his fresh legs. The game was already won upon his arrival.

    Willian – N/A – Came close to adding a fifth. Calmed the match down with his coolness on the ball.

    Davide Zappacosta – N/A – Hardly touched the ball as an 89th minute substitute.

    Arsenal

    Petr Cech – 6 – Was forced into action far more often than he’d have liked to be on his final appearance in football. Made two excellent saves but couldn’t quite react quickly enough for the goals.

    Sokratis Papastathopoulos – 5 – Really struggled when the game became stretched but it was hardly his fault after the switch to a back four. Couldn’t deal with Hazard when the match-winner began to cut inside.

    Laurent Koscielny – 5 – Beaten to the ball by Giroud for the opener, which came as a surprise as the Arsenal back line had been solid until that point. The defence fell apart from then onwards and Koscielny was stretched too far to keep Chelsea out.

    Nacho Monreal – 5 – Hooked with 25 minutes left – a tactical decision rather than one indicative of his display, but he didn’t exactly impress.

    Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 5 – Dealt with Hazard quite well initially but his positioning eventually allowed Chelsea’s wizard to find gaps to exploit. His game unravelled further when he gave the penalty away with a clumsy nudge. A shame given his decent first half.

    Lucas Torreira – 5 – Some neat footwork helped him out of the Chelsea press, which helped Arsenal dominate the first 30 minutes. Lost control after that and was taken off on 65 minutes.

    Granit Xhaka – 6 – Ran the game in the opening half hour. Spread the ball around the pitch beautifully at times, but was part of an Arsenal midfield that simply couldn’t stop the Chelsea wave after the break.

    Sead Kolasinac – 5 – Found plenty of room down the left in the first half but was wasteful with his deliveries.

    Mesut Ozil – 4 – Totally anonymous. A night summed up by his incredibly slow walk off the pitch when subbed at 4-1 with 15 minutes to left to play, which will give his critics an even bigger stick to beat him with. Created just one chance.

    Alexandre Lacazette – 5 – A surprisingly quiet evening. His first chance fell to him at 4-1, and he was unlucky to see a cushioned volley saved well. Was unable to hold the ball up with his usual strength.

    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 4 – Mishit just about every shot that fell to him, especially on the half-volley. Arsenal needed their top scorer to be clinical, as he was in the semi-finals, but Aubameyang put in a strangely messy display.

    Substitutes

    Alex Iwobi – 6 – Scored a stunning volley within moments of coming on, giving Arsenal momentary hope.

    Matteo Guendouzi – N/A – Didn’t make much of an impact as a second half substitute.

    Joe Willock – N/A – The teenager was desperately unlucky not to find the net after a good move late on.

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