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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
James Whaling

Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal: Blues run riot in second half to win Europa League - 6 talking points

Chelsea won the Europa League with a thumping victory over Arsenal in Baku.

The Blues ran riot in the second half, firing four goals past Petr Cech in the Gunners goal to win a second Europa League crown this decade.

After a goalless first half, Olivier Giroud scored against his old club before Eden Hazard set up Pedro to double Chelsea's advantage.

Hazard made it three from the penalty spot after Ainsley Maitland-Niles had felled Giroud, then Alex Iwobi gave Arsenal hope with a brilliant volley from the edge of the box.

But superb Hazard, playing probably his last game for the Blues, sucked any life out of the comeback by making it 4-1 just moments later.

Here's six talking points from Baku...

1. Let's not play another European final in Baku

There were swathes of empty seats in Baku (REUTERS)

The last couple of weeks have served to prove that the choice to play a major European final was little short of a joke.

But this evening magnified that to the extent it surely cannot be allowed to happen again.

Discounting the fact an actual footballer couldn't travel to play in what would have been one of the biggest occasions of his career due to fears over his safety - the location and subsequent inability of supporters to follow their side is unacceptable.

There were swathes of empty seats and the atmosphere was flat barring brief pockets of noise from those that had commendably made the marathon journey from London.

Please, UEFA, let's not go back to Baku for a game of this magnitude.

2. Match takes time to catch fire

The match took some time to get going (REUTERS)

Given what was at stake - a major European honour and the chance for Arsenal to book their place in the Champions League next term - this first half was far from a classic.

It what seemed like ages to really get going, with only Petr Cech's save from Olivier Giroud a moment to really get out of your seat for.

Did I mention the ground was half empty? That can't have helped the players.

It's hard to think the first period would have been this bad had it been played in a packed Wembley/Bernabeu/Allianz Arena. You get my drift.

Please, UEFA, let's not go back to Baku for a game of this magnitude.

3. Giroud comes back to haunt Arsenal

Giroud opened the floodgates for Chelsea (REUTERS)

Olivier Giroud loves the Europa League - and he made his former club pay tonight.

After a first half that didn't have much in it, the Frenchman struck early in the second period to turn the tie in Chelsea's favour.

Emerson's ball in was accurate and Giroud stooped to guide it past Petr Cech in the Arsenal goal and open the floodgates.

It was Giroud's 11th goal in 14 appearances in Europe this season. Despite his lack of action in the Premier League, he's played a crucial role for Maurizio Sarri this term.

4. Hazard bows out a winner

Hazard struck twice for Chelsea (Getty Images)

If this was to be Eden Hazard's last game in a Chelsea shirt, and it looks for all the world like it will be, what a parting gift from the Belgian.

He set up Pedro for the second goal before converting from the spot after Ainsley Maitland-Niles had felled Olivier Giroud to make it 3-0.

After Alex Iwobi had breathed some life back into the Arsenal display, Hazard sucked it straight back out again by finishing from Giroud's centre.

It looks like Hazard will be going to Real Madrid - but he leaves having fired Chelsea to Europa League glory.

5. What now for Sarri?

Sarri's future is still up in the air (REUTERS)

So - what do Chelsea do with Maurizio Sarri now?

His job was said to be in serious question regardless of what happened here - but can they dispose of him after such an emphatic win?

Despite questions over his style of play and manner on the touchline, you can't argue too much with the Blues' season. A third-placed finish, a domestic cup final and now the Europa League title.

Can Chelsea really afford to let him leave, likely for Juventus , and appoint an inexperience manager, albeit a club legend, in Frank Lampard?

It would be a hell of a call.

6. Gunners fall apart

Arsenal capitulated after the break (Getty Images)

Arsenal were bang in this game in the first half but they capitulated after the break.

Once the first goal went in, their heads went down, and Chelsea broke through at will. They could have had a few more than they four they fired past Petr Cech.

All in all, it means Arsenal will be back in the Europa League next season - their third campaign away from Europe's top table.

For a club of their stature, that simply isn't good enough, and you have to think Unai Emery MUST get them into the top four next season to keep his job beyond that.

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