MX23RW : Monday, November 4 18:24:52| >> :60:199:199:
[monks data]
Attendance: 51,370
Chelsea logo
Europa League | Final
May 29, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

4-1

Giroud (49'), Pedro (60'), Hazard (65' pen., 72')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Iwobi (69')

Granit Xhaka gutted to miss out on Champions League

Granit Xhaka gutted to miss out on Champions League
© Reuters
The Gunners will have to prepare for a third-straight campaign away from European football's top table.

Granit Xhaka is disappointed to be facing another painful season in the Europa League after Arsenal's humiliating final loss to Chelsea.

Having spent so many years in the Champions League under Arsene Wenger, the Gunners will have to prepare for a third-straight campaign away from European football's top table.

A poor end to the season meant Arsenal stuttered home fifth in the Premier League, but the Europa League final in Baku offered them a second chance to qualify.

However, Eden Hazard's brace complemented goals from Olivier Giroud and Pedro at the sparsely-filled Baku Olympic Stadium to make Alex Iwobi's stunning strike a mere footnote in a 4-1 Chelsea win.

It was a galling end to Unai Emery's first season in charge, leaving Arsenal facing another arduous season in the Europa League.

Asked if it was painful to be in the competition again, Arsenal midfielder Xhaka said: "Yeah, of course because I think we had a good season – if you take off the five last games in the Premier League.

Alex Iwobi
Alex Iwobi (right) was on target with a consolation for Arsenal (Bradley Collyer/PA)

"We had a second chance to come back and go to the Champions League but if you don't take your chances, you will stay in the Europa League.

"You can say a lot now but it is not the time to explain why and what happens. We lost today. I don't want to speak about the last five weeks or 10 weeks.

"I think today was a big chance for us, we didn't take it."

Few would have predicted such a big Chelsea win as Arsenal edged a tepid first half.

Alexandre Lacazette saw a penalty appeal ignored and Xhaka's long-range strike skimmed the bar, only for the Gunners' soft underbelly to be exposed after the break.

"We opened the game too fast in the second half," Switzerland international Xhaka said. "After 1-0, you still have 45 minutes to come back.

Alexandre Lacazette
Alexandre Lacazette saw a penalty appeal ignored (Luca Bruno/AP)

"After, with the individual class from Chelsea, they can change the game.

"In my opinion, I think we have Chelsea, over 60, 70 minutes, good in our hands.

"We had chances as well but I said before, we made too many mistakes and if you have played like Chelsea have..."

Arsenal boss Emery did not say anything to the group in the dressing room after Chelsea ran amok, with retiring goalkeeper Petr Cech preventing his former side making matters even worse.

There is speculation that the likes of Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny could follow Cech and Juventus-bound Aaron Ramsey out of the club this summer, but Xhaka is not getting too het up about the future.

"I don't know what happens with the club, what is the plan of the club," he added.

"Of course, we are hungry. Maybe we don't show each other we are hungry but inside we have a lot of players who are hungry if we lose."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Simon Peach, Press Association Chief Football Writer, Baku');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'b8925285-aed1-4ca6-848e-7e800f023475');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Granit Xhaka disappointed Arsenal face another painful Europa League campaign'});

ID:360680: cacheID:360680:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:16626:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Chelsea forward Eden Hazard celebrates his first goal against Arsenal in the 2019 Europa League final on May 29, 2019
Read Next:
In focus: Eden Hazard's potential Chelsea farewell performance
>
Read more about Granit Xhaka Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Lazio33009
2Spurs33009
3Anderlecht33009
4Ajax32107
5Frankfurt32107
6Midtjylland32107
7Galatasaray32107
8Bodo/Glimt32107
9Lyon32016
10Rangers32016
11Olympiacos32016
12FCSB32016
13Fenerbahce31205
14Porto31114
15Slavia Prague31114
16Real Sociedad31114
17Roma31114
18Hoffenheim31114
19AZ31023
20Man Utd30303
21Plzen30303
22Ferencvaros31023
23Elfsborg31023
24Malmo31023
25Braga31023
26Besiktas31023
27FC Twente30212
28Union SG30121
29PAOK30121
30Ludogorets30121
31Nice30121
32RFS30121
33Athletic Club00000
34M. Tel Aviv30030
35Dynamo Kiev30030
36Qarabag30030


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!