Chelsea Trounce Arsenal To Win Europa League

By Joshua Walters

Chelsea produced a stunning second-half display to trounce Arsenal 4-1 in the Europa League final in Baku on Wednesday night.

The win marks Maurizio Sarri's first trophy as a manager, denying Unai Emery the chance to win the competition for a fourth time.

After a goalless first-half, Chelsea upped the tempo as goals from Giroud, Pedro and Eden Hazard's brace rendered Alex Iwobi's stunning volley a mere consolation for Arsenal.

Chelsea will thus await the winners of the Champions League final between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspurs in next season's UEFA Super Cup.

Granit Xhaka's long-range strike nearly gave Arsenal the lead as his effort kissed the top of the bar in the 27th minute.

Petr Cech came to Arsenal's rescue when he palmed away Emerson's fierce strike in the 37th minute after some good work by Eden Hazard.

Cech again produced a good one-handed save to deny Giroud in the 40th minute after Chelsea carved the Arsenal defense open with some neat football.

The first goal of the night arrived just four minutes after halftime, and it was former Arsenal striker, Giroud, who produced a brilliant header past Cech from Emerson's cross for his 11th Europa League goal of the season.

Eight years after scoring against Manchester United in the Champions League final, Pedro scored his second European cup final goal, and Chelsea's second of the night on the hour mark when he produced a left footed finish into the left corner from Hazard's pass.

Chelsea were awarded a penalty just five minutes later after Maitland-Niles barged into Giroud in the penalty box, and Hazard stepped up to send Cech the wrong way for his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.

Substitute Alex Iwobi handed Arsenal a lifeline after the Nigerian lashed in a wonderful volley from 22 yards in the 69th minute when Chelsea failed to properly clear a corner.

Any hopes Arsenal had of staging a comeback were dashed by Hazard in the 72nd minute when the Belgian calmly stroked home Giroud's lofted pass to seal Maurizio Sarri's first trophy as a manager.