After weeks of waiting, the Europa League final is finally upon us, and Arsenal legend Ian Wright has delivered his verdict of how Wednesday night could play out.
With the Premier League campaign ending on May 12, Arsenal and Chelsea have had 17 days to prepare for the final in Baku, all against a backdrop of fury against UEFA and outrage that Henrikh Mkhitaryan is being forced to miss out due to political tensions.
However, with the teams now over in Azerbaijan and making their final preparations, Ian Wright reckons Arsenal’s front two of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette could see the Gunners ‘nick it’, although Eden Hazard could ‘go out in a blaze of glory’ in what is likely to be his final game for Chelsea.
“Arsenal’s away form has not been great this season, but the last couple of games it has sort of kicked in,” Wright told the Daily Mirror.
“I wouldn’t say Valencia were an amazing team but I thought Arsenal dealt with them ruthlessly and I think that Chelsea have the kind of defence that if you can get at them you can cause problems. Especially Lacazette and Aubameyang.
“But at the same time, Arsenal’s defence has been a weakness this season and when you have someone like Hazard, who is going to be marauding in there, Arsenal haven’t got that naturally defence-minded midfielder who can pick him up in there, like someone like Kante could, so Hazard could be a problem.
“And when you look at him [Hazard] in what could be his last game for Chelsea he’s going to want to go out in a blaze of glory and win something so you have to say there is an argument for both teams.
“Obviously I want Arsenal to win and I think Arsenal might just nick it simply because of the two guys up front.”
READ: Five of the most memorable Europa League Finals
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