By Daily Sports on June 3, 2019
Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has criticised his former club for their “collapse” against Chelsea in the Europa League final.
Unai Emery’s side were well beaten 4-1 by their London rivals in Baku on Wednesday.
Goals from Olivier Giroud, Pedro and Eden Hazard put Chelsea 3-0 ahead midway through the second half. Alex Iwobi’s fine strike brought the Gunners back into the game, but Hazard scored his second and Chelsea’s fourth from the penalty spot to seal the victory.
The defeat not only ended Arsenal’s hopes of finishing the campaign with silverware but it was also their last opportunity to play
Champions League football next season following their fifth-placed finish in the Premier League.
It means Arsenal will now be playing Europa League football for the third successive season.
Wenger, who managed Arsenal for 22 years between 1996 and 2018, was disappointed with the way his former side faded after conceding the opening goal.
“I felt that in the first half we did quite alright but as soon as Chelsea scored the first goal we collapsed completely,” Wenger told beIN Sports.
“In the second half we didn’t exist. It was a sad night for us.”
Wenger did have some sympathy for the Gunners despite the manner of their defeat.
The 69-year-old acknowledges that the Europa League is a tough competition to compete in alongside a gruelling Premier League season as it places a great strain on the squad.
“I agree that until the quarter-final in the Europa League you play with a reserve team when you play in England because the Premier League is so demanding,” the Frenchman added.
“I would say that even in the Champions League group stage you rest players, when you have a difficult game over the weekend, sometimes even in the group stage because you’re close to qualifying. (Goal)
•Photo shows Arsene Wenger
Source Daily Sports
Posted June 3, 2019
You may also like...
Goals rain, as grassroots clubs show top quality...
BREAKING NEWS: Court freezes Neymar’s assets, including yacht...
Juventus Beat Arsenal To Sign Dusan Vlahovic From...
Amoo hails players as Brazilian kids celebrate Dream...
Nigeria's Pascal Durugbor bangs hat trick to make...
Super Eagles Boss Gernot Rohr Loses Mother
Aribo ready to fight for EPL survival
Adesanya vows to make UFC return after third straight loss
We Apologize To Our Father Dr Peter Odili On Behalf Of His Children Who Have Gone Astray – Edison Ehie
Aston Villa closing in on Rashford loan deal
Adesanya aims for comeback as UFC lands in Saudi
Alonso delighted with Boniface stay
EPL: Wood’s hat-trick fires Nottingham Forest to 7-0 thrashing of Brighton
PDP Governors Announce Date For Party’s NEC Meeting
PDP governors back Appeal Court verdict, endorse Ude Okoye as national secretary
Everton plot £33m Awoniyi move
Barcelona’s Pedri extends contract to 2030
Boniface rejoins Leverkusen training after failed Saudi transfer
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (55,270 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,426 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,456 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,101 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,052 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,039 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,849 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,413 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,501 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,150 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,591 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,021 views)