{"id":1091269,"date":"2019-05-29T22:39:50","date_gmt":"2019-05-29T21:39:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1091269"},"modified":"2019-05-29T23:00:58","modified_gmt":"2019-05-29T22:00:58","slug":"chelsea-4-1-arsenal-match-analysis-hazard-giroud","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/chelsea-4-1-arsenal-match-analysis-hazard-giroud\/","title":{"rendered":"Double trouble: How Hazard and Giroud combined again to take the Europa League to Stamford Bridge"},"content":{"rendered":"

In an emphatic performance in Baku, Chelsea thrashed Arsenal 4-1 in the Europa League final.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After a really slow first half where there was nothing on display bar a couple of moments from Eden Hazard, the Belgian lit up the second half of the game with some sumptuous football. But he was ably assisted in this endeavour by Olivier Giroud.<\/p>\n

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

“When Olly scored, I think it was the beginning of a great night,” said Hazard after the match. The Frenchman is the one who broke open the deadlock with a stunning header from Emerson’s left-wing cross, but it was his Belgian team-mate that stole the show.<\/p>\n

“Maybe it’s time for a new challenge,” said Hazard after the game, giving voice to the open secret that he was on the verge of joining Real Madrid. There can be no doubt he will depart, “I think it’s a goodbye,” he said, and what a goodbye it was! Two goals and one assist, taking a 1-0 lead and absolutely pulverising Arsenal to put the result beyond doubt.<\/p>\n

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Hazard is often a capricious player, as likely to sleepwalk through a game as light it up with moments of supreme skill. And part of that is his mentality, for sure, but a lot of it is down to tactics. Hazard is the kind of heads-up dribbler that invites associative play, he needs a striker who can be similarly associative if he is to be at his best. When he cuts infield and penetrates, he needs a striker who can simply take a pass then flick or roll it back into his path.<\/p>\n

Chelsea have tried to find him the ideal partner, and whilst they’ve had various levels of luck with the likes of Diego Costa, Samuel Eto’o and Alvaro Morata (and Gonzalo Higuain), ultimately they’ve found it hard to get Hazard and the striker playing brilliantly together. One usually had to sublimate themselves for the other to shine.<\/p>\n

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Olivier Giroud, on the other hand, has no such issues. He is such a gloriously associative striker that he can shine at the same time as Hazard. The two of them play so well together. They are in almost perfect harmony, understanding each other’s movements. When Hazard pushes in, Giroud knows that a simple flick around the corner to get the pass back is what he wants.<\/p>\n

When Hazard is driving from deep, Giroud knows to drift wide enough to offer an option and pull defenders away. These are obvious things but you’d be amazed at how many strikers don’t understand the rhythm of Eden Hazard’s game and just end up getting in his way. Not Giroud though, and tonight in Baku the two led a beatdown onto the beleagued Gunners.<\/p>\n