Chelsea are set to lock horns with their London rivals Arsenal in the UEFA Europa League final on 29th May Wednesday at the Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan. Keep Reading to find out UEFA Europa League 2019 final Chelsea vs Arsenal Prediction.

Maurizio Sarri’s men played out a thriller in the semifinals against Eintracht Frankfurt and went ahead by the virtue of winning the penalty shootout. Arsenal, on the other hand, were comfortable in their 2-4 win against Valencia at the Mestalla coming to the finals. However, the onus is on Unai Emery’s men to win the finale and qualify for the Champions League next season, as the Gunners finished fifth in the Premier League.

It is understood that Arsenal’s Spanish gaffer Unai Emery has the secret formula of winning the Europa League as he has won the tournament three times in succession with his former club, Sevilla. While Chelsea are looking to bag their first silverware under Maurizio Sarri after missing out in the Carabao Cup finals against Manchester City.

Team News

Chelsea

The Blues felt the absence of N’Golo Kante in the heart of midfield in the second leg against Frankfurt, he was also absent in their Premier League game against Leicester. Hence his participation in the finals is still unclear.

Meanwhile, midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek who impressed everyone in the semifinals is out of the finals after suffering a blow to his Achilles. His compatriot Callum Hudson-Odoi is also out with the same injury. Defender Antonio Rudiger’s season was cut short after he underwent surgery on his left knee meniscus.

Arsenal

The Gunners also have some absentees, as their star midfielder Aaron Ramsey who is set to join Juventus this summer will miss out this all-important fixture. Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck have all suffered from long term injuries and won’t be able to feature in the finals. Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos’ participation after picking up a knock against Burnley is still unclear.

Unai Emery will be relieved as Mesut Ozil Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Lucas Torreira are all expected to be available for the crunch fixture even after missing their last match at the Turf Moor.

UEFA Europa League Final Chelsea vs Arsenal Prediction

Predicted Lineups

Chelsea Predicted Lineups

Arrizabalaga; Zappacosta, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Emerson; Kovacic, Jorginho, Barkley; Pedro, Higuain, Hazard.

Arsenal Predicted Lineups

Cech; Koscielny, Sokratis, Monreal; Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Torreira, Kolasinac; Ozil; Aubameyang, Lacazette.

Chelsea vs Arsenal Head to Head

Both the London sides have shared great rivalry and when they clash its never a dull affair. In head to head, the Gunners are slightly ahead of their rivals though it is very close. Arsenal have 37 wins to Chelsea’s 33 with 30 games ending in a draw.

This season in the Premier League, both teams have registered a win. Chelsea brushed aside Arsenal 3-1 at the Stamford Bridge, as the Gunners got their sweet revenge with a 2-0 win at the Emirates.

Their last meeting in Europe, however, came back in 2003/04 season in the Champions League quarter-finals. It was a 1-1 draw in the first leg with Eidur Gudjohnsen and Robert Pires scoring for their respective side. But the action at Stamford Bridge was fascinating as Jose Antonio Reyes bagged the early away goal for the Gunners but twin strikes from Franck Lampard and Wayne Bridge handed Chelsea the semifinal spot.

Chelsea vs Arsenal Prediction

It is going to be a very tight affair and the game may go way beyond 90 minutes. However, Unai Emery’s men have shown that they have the hunger and passion to clinch the title, as this is the only way they can qualify for the Champions League next season. However, Sarri’s men are yet to taste defeat in the Europa League and the Italian will be desperate to win a silverware and prove his doubters wrong.

The Gunners showed that they can dominate teams in their 2-0 win over Chelsea at the Emirates. There they completely neutralized Eden Hazard’s threat, which they need to do again. Sarri will have his work cut out with players like Kante and Loftus-Cheek absent from the tie. Arsenal have peaked at the right time and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette’s partnership in the final third is giving Unai Emery’s men the much-needed edge that they require.

Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal

Written by Atrayo Rohan Bhattacharya

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