Chelsea may have to bring in Mateo Kovacic but when I look at the scenario where Ozil plays in the diamond shape behind Aubameyang and Lacazette, it plays into Arsenal's hands. Jorginho is not physical so it is teed up for Ozil. This is the time where he might just deliver for Arsenal. They are shaky and susceptible to the counter-attack but so are Chelsea. David Luiz is an accident waiting to happen, yet he can be amazing other weeks.
In the end, we’re expecting Emery’s Europa League experience to shine through here. Arsenal have been the much more impressive side in the latter stages of this competition, so we’re going for a 2-1 win for the Gunners for our correct score prediction.
We’re also backing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to get on the score-sheet in Baku, with the Gabonese marksman netting 31 goals in 50 appearances for Arsenal this season. Eight of these have come in 11 Europa League outings, including a hat-trick away to Valencia in the semi-finals, so he looks a top choice for our anytime goalscorer predictions.
Olimpiya Stadionu will host the 2018/2019 Europa League final. Chelsea and Arsenal face each other for the first time ever in the final of the competition and, no doubt, there will be fireworks when they meet in an-all England clash in the capital of Azerbaijan. The Blues booked their place in the final by beating Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties, whilst the Gunners rolled over Valencia in the two-legged tie.
A man to watch in Mauricio Sarri’s team will be Eden Hazard who scored 16 goals in the Premier League, whilst Chelsea defenders should have duo Lacazette – Aubameyang at bay. A lively contest is on the horizon in Baku and given the attacking potential of the two teams, we believe that there is a big value in betting on both teams to score. You should bear in mind that 12 goals in total have been netted in previous four meetings between the two teams in all competitions.
Arsenal impressed in the latter stages of the knockout rounds by overcoming Napoli and Valencia with convincing displays as they went one better than last season when crashing out in the semis under Arsene Wenger.
Chelsea have proven pedigree in UEFA's secondary competition, having gone all the way in their only previous participation in 2013, though they have some injury problems to contend with.
Only two points and two places separated the sides at the end of the regular campaign so a tight match can be expected in Baku. We are tipping this one to finish all square, and then it comes down to a battle of nerves from the penalty spot - something Chelsea have more recent experience with, which could prove telling.
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Arsenal: The Gunners will be a bit shorthanded in this one. Aaron Ramsey, who is set for a move to Juventus this summer on a free transfer, will miss the game due to injury. Meanwhile, Henrikh Mkhitaryan won't travel with the team due to fears for this safety as a result of the tense relations between his birth nation Armenia and the host nation Azerbaijan.
Chelsea: Remember that friendly that Chelsea played in the United States last week? Yeah, now it's fine to question whether the timing was right. Ruben Loftus-Cheek tore his Achilles in that game, and star midfielder N'Golo Kante picked up a knee injury that puts his participation in this one up in the air, according to the Daily Express. Besides Eden Hazard, Kante is Chelsea's most important player and the engine in the middle. If he can't go, it's a huge boost for Arsenal.