Hazard double helps Chelsea hammer Arsenal to claim Europa League title
Chelsea thrashed Arsenal 4-1 in Baku to clinch the Europa League title in what is surely to be Eden Hazard’s final game for the club.
Arsenal had the best of the early chances during a quiet night in Baku. Granit Xhaka woke the crowd half way through the first half as he struck the crossbar, before Petr Cech kept Emerson and Olivier Giroud at bay before the break.
The Frenchman put Chelsea in front with his 11th of the campaign, securing the golden boot, with a fine header into the bottom left hand corner following Emerson’s cross.
AS IT HAPPENED: Chelsea thrash Arsenal to clinch Europa League
READ MORE: Eden Hazard: 'I think this is goodbye'
Pedro’s first time finish made it 2-0 on the hour mark before Eden Hazard made it 3-0 from the penalty spot after Giroud was bundled over by Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Alex Iwobi did pull one back for Arsenal with a brilliantly taken goal from 22-yards out, but Hazard’s second of the night secured the 4-1 win for Chelsea, and with it the Europa League title.
Arsenal could have been 1-0 up inside ten minutes when a really poor punch from Kepa fell to Emerick-Aubameyang inside the box, but the Gabonese striker pulled his shot wide.
Kepa’s blushes were saved once more in the 18th minute after referee Gianluca Rocchi and VAR turned down Lacazette’s penalty appeal. The Blues keeper rushed out, only made contact with the Arsenal forward’s boot, but nothing was given.
There was finally some noise from inside the Baku Olympic Stadium with 27 minutes on the clock as Xhaka grazed the top of the crossbar with an emphatic strike from 25-yards.
Chelsea’s first real chance of the game came just seven minutes later, after some good work down the left hand side, Emerson’s effort was powerful but straight at Cech.
Cech, playing in the final game of his career, was called into action once again just moments later. Giroud’s strike was hard a low from the edge of the area but the 37-year-old kept it out with a strong left arm.
The Frenchman gave Chelsea the lead in the 49th minute with a fine glancing header following Emerson’s pin point early cross from the left. The goal making him the top scorer in this season’s Europa League campaign.
Pedro made it 2-0 on the hour mark with a finish into the bottom corner. Eden Hazard found the Spaniard on his own on the penalty spot before he swept home.
It was 3-0 in the 65th minute as Arsenal's calamitous second half continued. Giroud was bundled over in the area by Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Hazard stepped up to send Cech the wrong way.
The Gunners hit back almost immediately thanks to a stunning strike from substitute Alex Iwobi, who hammered a volley into the far corner from 22 yards out.
Just as Arsenal had given themselves hope, it was extinguished instantly as Hazard grabbed his second of the night.
The Belgian won the ball back high up the pitch again, before playing in Giroud. The Frenchman then lofted a delightful cross back to Hazard who slotted in from close range to make it 4-1.
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