Soccer: Miller previews the UEFA Europa League final, likely Eden Hazard’s last with the Blues – Chelsea vs Arsenal – including odds & more
Just like the UEFA Champions League final on June 1, the UEFA Europa League final will be an all-English affair. In fact, it will be two teams from the same city, as London looks to become the capital of club football.
Rivals Arsenal and Chelsea will battle in Baku, Azerbaijan, to come home with the second biggest club prize available on the European stage. For Arsenal, the game means much more, as a win over the Blues will guarantee the club Champions League football next season. It would also be the Gunners first European trophy.
Chelsea has won this competition once before, in 2013, and has a Champions League triumph as well.
The match should also be the last for some players on both sides, including Eden Hazard, who looks to be off to Real Madrid after the game.
Here is a look at some stats and odds for the match, with help from Americangambler.com.
This will be the 198th all-time natch between the two London rivals. Arsenal has won 76, Chelsea has won 63, with 58 draws.
The teams have spilt this season: Arsenal won at the Emirates 2-0 on January 19, while Chelsea won at Stamford Bridge 3-2 on August 18. Dating back to the F.A. Community Shield in August of 2017, Arsenal has two wins, Chelsea one, with four draws.
This is the 10th time two teams from the same country have played in the UEFA Cup/Europa League final, and the first all-English final since the very first competition back in 1971-72. Tottenham beat Wolverhampton 3-2 on aggregate in the two-legged affair.
This will be an English teams’ 10th title, breaking the second place tie with Italy, and one less than Spain.
Chelsea won this title in 2012-13, after winning the Champions League the season before in 2011-12. At the time, the Blues were the first holders to be knocked out into the Europa League after the group stage.
Arsenal was the runner-up in 1999-2000 to Galatasaray. The Gunners have one other European final appearance, in the 2006 Champions League final, when they lost to Barcelona.
Chelsea is -150 to lift the cup, with Arsenal +115.
Both teams to score yes is -133, no is +105.
Eden Hazard is the current betting favorite to score in his last game with the Blues at +163, with Arsenal’s Premier League Golden Boot winner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at +170. Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud, the current top scorer in this year’s completion with 10 goals, is +220 to score a goal.
The over/under goal total is set at 2.5, with over +100, and under -125.
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL ODDS
Odds provided by Americangambler.com
Chelsea (+130) vs. Arsenal (+220), draw (+230), May 29, 3 p.m. (Fubo.tv)