2019 UEFA Europa League final

File:Chelsea won UEFA Europa League final at Olympic Stadium and President Ilham Aliyev watched the final match 16.jpg in Baku hosted the final]]

This was the first European club competition final to be held in Azerbaijan. Later, the stadium was also chosen as one of the host venues of UEFA Euro 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/023d-0e16a8502139-7e6017b38314-1000--baku-to-host-2019-uefa-europa-league-final/ |title=Baku to host 2019 UEFA Europa League final |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=20 September 2017}}

For the first time ever, an open bidding process was launched on 9 December 2016 by UEFA to select the venues of the club competition finals (UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Women's Champions League and UEFA Super Cup).{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/newsid=2430054.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803075015/http://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/newsid=2430054.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 August 2017 |title=Lyon to host 2018 UEFA Europa League final |publisher=UEFA |date=9 December 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/uefaorg/General/02/42/99/42/2429942_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816234613/http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/uefaorg/General/02/42/99/42/2429942_DOWNLOAD.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 August 2017 |title=UEFA club competition finals 2019: bid regulations |publisher=UEFA}} Associations had until 27 January 2017 to express interest, and bid dossiers must be submitted by 6 June 2017.

UEFA announced on 3 February 2017 that six associations expressed interest in hosting,{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/newsid=2438931.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922065810/http://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/newsid=2438931.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 September 2017 |title=15 associations interested in hosting 2019 club finals |publisher=UEFA |date=3 February 2017}} and confirmed on 7 June 2017 that three associations submitted bids for the 2019 UEFA Europa League Final:{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/newsid=2476504.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181014160415/https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/newsid=2476504.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 October 2018 |title=Ten associations bidding to host 2019 club finals |publisher=7 June 2017}}

The following associations expressed interest in hosting but eventually did not submit bids:

• Georgia: Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi
• Germany: Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart (preferred over Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt){{cite web |url=https://www.kicker.de/europa-league-finale-2019_dfb-bewirbt-sich-mit-stuttgart-675206/artikel |title=Europa-League-Finale 2019: DFB bewirbt sich mit Stuttgart |publisher=Kicker |date=7 April 2017}}
• Scotland: Hampden Park, Glasgow

The bid evaluation report was published by UEFA on 14 September 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/OfficialDocument/uefaorg/Regulations/02/50/17/48/2501748_DOWNLOAD.pdf |title=UEFA Club Competition Finals 2019 Evaluation Report |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}} The Baku Olympic Stadium was selected as the venue by the UEFA Executive Committee on 20 September 2017, while the Vodafone Park was successful in its bid to host the 2019 UEFA Super Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/newsid=2498908.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909220537/http://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/newsid=2498908.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 September 2017 |title=UEFA Executive Committee agenda for Nyon meeting |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=7 September 2017}}

File:Unai Emery - Sevilla (cropped).jpg appeared in his fourth Europa League final, having won all three prior.]]

Chelsea were playing in their second Europa League final, having won 2–1 against Benfica in 2013. The match was their sixth overall European final, adding to two Cup Winners' Cup finals in 1971 (a 2–1 win over Real Madrid) and 1998 (a 1–0 win over VfB Stuttgart), and two UEFA Champions League finals in 2008 (1–1, lost 6–5 on penalties to Manchester United) and 2012 (1–1, won 4–3 on penalties over Bayern Munich).{{cite web |title=Chelsea's European final pedigree |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0252-0cd391c5eab5-a70c45d5c98c-1000--chelsea-s-european-final-pedigree/ |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |access-date=9 May 2013 |date=9 May 2013}} In seventeen matches, Chelsea entered the match with a record of six wins, seven draws (two of which they lost on penalties), and four losses in European competitions against fellow English clubs. Most recently, they lost both legs against Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the 2010–11 Champions League.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/printoutfiles/competitions/uefaeuropaleague/2019/e/e_2025487_pk.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530035049/https://www.uefa.com/printoutfiles/competitions/uefaeuropaleague/2019/e/e_2025487_pk.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 May 2019 |title=Match press kits (UEFA Europa League – 2018/19 season, final): Chelsea FC v Arsenal FC |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=10 May 2019 |access-date=11 May 2019}}

It was also Arsenal's second Europa League final, having lost on penalties to Galatasaray in 2000. Like Chelsea, it was the sixth time they appeared in the final of a UEFA competition.{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/teams/club=52280/profile/history/index.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140821230214/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/teams/club=52280/profile/history/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 August 2014 |title=Arsenal profile – History |work=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |access-date=21 August 2014}} They most recently featured in the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final, losing 2–1 to Barcelona. They also reached the final of the Cup Winners' Cup three times: in 1980, when they suffered a 5–4 penalty shoot-out defeat to Valencia following a 0–0 draw;{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Armstrong |title=Arsenal pay the penalty |work=The Guardian |page=22 |date=15 May 1980}} 1994, beating Parma 1–0;{{cite news |first=Joe |last=Lovejoy |title=Football / European Cup-Winners Cup: Smith's strike brings Arsenal European glory: Battling Londoners make light of the loss of Wright and Jensen |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football--european-cupwinners-cup-smiths-strike-brings-arsenal-european-glory-battling-londoners-make-light-of-the-loss-of-wright-and-jensen-1433888.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football--european-cupwinners-cup-smiths-strike-brings-arsenal-european-glory-battling-londoners-make-light-of-the-loss-of-wright-and-jensen-1433888.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Independent |date=5 May 1994 |access-date=21 August 2014}}{{cbignore}} and returning in 1995, losing 2–1 at the hands of Zaragoza.{{cite news |first=Glenn |last=Moore |title=Extraordinary Nayim strike denies Arsenal |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/extraordinary-nayim-strike-denies-arsenal-1619106.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/extraordinary-nayim-strike-denies-arsenal-1619106.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Independent |date=11 May 1995 |access-date=21 August 2014}}{{cbignore}} Arsenal had previously won 4–3 on aggregate against Anderlecht in the 1970 final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, a forerunner to the UEFA Cup/Europa League.{{cite news |first=Albert |last=Barham |title=Kennedy gives Arsenal hope |work=The Guardian |page=31 |date=23 April 1970}}{{cite news |first=Albert |last=Barham |title=Triumph for Arsenal |work=The Guardian |page=21 |date=29 April 1970}} Arsenal were winless in their six prior meetings against fellow English clubs, with a record of two draws and four losses. Most recently, they lost both legs against Manchester United in the semi-finals of the 2008–09 Champions League. The match was the fourth Europa League final for manager Unai Emery, who joined Arsenal at the start of the season as the replacement for Arsène Wenger.{{cite web |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/welcome-unai |title=Welcome Unai |publisher=Arsenal |access-date=23 May 2018}} Emery has a perfect record in Europa League finals, winning three consecutive titles with Sevilla in 2014, 2015 and 2016. He now solely holds the record for the most UEFA Cup/Europa League final appearances, having previously been tied with the three finals of Giovanni Trapattoni (1977, 1991, and 1993) and Sven-Göran Eriksson (1982, 1983, and 1998). A win would have seen him surpass Trapattoni and become the outright most successful manager in the competition's history, with four titles.{{cite news |title=The Unai Emery League: Qualified through 24 consecutive rounds and will contest a fourth final |url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2019/05/10/5cd4a0d3e5fdead4208b45be.html |publisher=Marca |date=10 May 2019 |access-date=10 May 2019}}

The final was the 198th competitive meeting between London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal, with a record of 76 Arsenal wins, 63 Chelsea wins and 58 draws going into the match. The sides met twice during the 2018–19 Premier League season, with each winning at home: Chelsea by a score of 3–2 in the first match at Stamford Bridge, and Arsenal 2–0 in the second at Emirates Stadium. They faced each other once before in a European tie, meeting in the quarter-finals of the 2003–04 Champions League; the first match finished as a 1–1 draw, with Chelsea winning the second meeting 2–1 away and advancing to the semi-finals.{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0251-0e99afc00f47-8d9f9adaad95-1000--europa-league-final-chelsea-v-arsenal-previous-uefa-meetings/ |title=Europa League final: Chelsea v Arsenal previous UEFA meetings |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=9 May 2019 |access-date=14 May 2019}} Domestically, the sides have met in three cup finals, with Arsenal winning the 2002 and 2017 FA Cup finals, and Chelsea winning the 2007 Football League Cup Final.{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=536&team2_id=142&teamTabs=h2h |title=Chelsea: Head-to-head v Arsenal |publisher=Soccerbase |access-date=10 May 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/chelsea-fc/arsenal-fc/11/ |title=Chelsea FC » Record against Arsenal FC |website=WorldFootball.net |access-date=10 May 2019}}

The match was the second all-English UEFA Cup/Europa League final, after the inaugural final in 1972 between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur. Overall, it was the tenth UEFA Cup/Europa League final to feature two teams from the same country, previously achieved four times by Italian teams (1990, 1991, 1995 and 1998), twice by Spanish teams (2007 and 2012), and once by German (1980) and Portuguese teams (2011), in addition to England in 1972. This was the first Europa League final to feature two teams from the same city (London), as well as the fourth in a UEFA club competition final after Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid, who met in the Champions League finals of 2014 and 2016, as well as in the 2018 UEFA Super Cup.{{cite web |last=Stokkermans |first=Karel |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/ec3b.html |title=UEFA Cup |website=RSSSF.com |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=28 February 2019 |access-date=9 May 2019}} As Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool also reached the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final, this was the first season to have multiple finals of major European club competitions featuring teams from a single nation.{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0251-0e99afc01f0b-e2b6e033beb4-1000--has-one-country-ever-had-all-european-finalists-before/ |title=Has one country ever had all European finalists before? |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=9 May 2019 |access-date=10 May 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48222997 |title=Champions League & Europa League: English clubs make history by taking four final places |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 May 2019 |access-date=10 May 2019}}

In the following table, finals until 2009 were in the UEFA Cup era, since 2010 were in the UEFA Europa League era.

{{Further|2018–19 UEFA Europa League}}

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).

File:2019 UEL Final identity.jpg

The brand identity for the final was unveiled at the group stage draw on 31 August 2018, taking inspiration from several prominent buildings in Baku. The logo also incorporates Azerbaijan's nickname, the "Land of Fire", by adding a flame to the letter "A", and a common design in Azerbaijani rugs.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0248-0f8e633b1286-5f8bdb5d3a0a-1000--uefa-europa-league-final-identity-unveiled-for-baku-2019/ |title=UEFA Europa League final identity unveiled for Baku 2019 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=31 August 2018}}

File:Van Hooijdonk 2012 (2).jpg, ambassador for the final.]]

The ambassador for the final is former Netherlands international Pierre van Hooijdonk,{{cite news |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190315-arsenal-draw-napoli-pick-europa-league-quarter-finals |title=Arsenal draw Napoli in pick of Europa League quarter-finals |publisher=France 24 |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=15 April 2019 |access-date=17 May 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517202543/https://www.france24.com/en/20190315-arsenal-draw-napoli-pick-europa-league-quarter-finals |archive-date=17 May 2019}} who won the 2001–02 UEFA Cup with Feyenoord and finished as the top scorer,{{cite web |url=http://www.worldfootball.net/goalgetter/uefa-cup-2001-2002/ |title=Europa League 2001/2002 » Top Scorer |publisher=WorldFootball.net |access-date=24 March 2015}} in which he scored two goals in the final win against Borussia Dortmund.{{cite news |title=Feyenoord seal Uefa Cup win |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/uefa_cup/1973191.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2002 |access-date=21 December 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/025a-0eab03e95fa6-ade15fdef681-1000--final-joy-for-feyenoord/ |title=Final joy for Feyenoord |publisher=UEFA |date=9 May 2002 |access-date=21 December 2017}}

{{multiple image

| align = right

| perrow = 1

| direction = vertical

| image1 = Chelsea vs. Arsenal, 29 May 2019 16.jpg

| width1 = 200

| alt1 =

| image2 = Chelsea vs. Arsenal, 29 May 2019 15.jpg

| width2 = 200

| alt2 =

| footer = Chelsea fans (top) and Arsenal fans (bottom) during the match.

}}

With a stadium capacity of 64,000 for the final, a total amount of 37,500 tickets are available to fans and the general public, with the two finalist teams receiving 6,000 tickets each,{{cite news |title=Europa League final: supporter information |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/europa-league-final-supporter-info |work=arsenal.com |publisher=Arsenal FC |date=9 May 2019 |access-date=13 May 2019}} and with the other tickets being available for sale to fans worldwide via UEFA.com from 7 to 21 March 2019 in four price categories: €140, €90, €50, and €30. The remaining tickets are allocated to the local organising committee, national associations, commercial partners, and broadcasters, and to serve the corporate hospitality programme.{{cite web |title=37,500 tickets available to general public for 2019 UEFA Europa League final in Baku |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/024e-0f8e68c6c528-8c7b45916246-1000--37-500-tickets-available-to-general-public-for-2019-uefa-eu/ |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=28 February 2019}}

The match had an official attendance of 51,370, making it the third-largest crowd for a Europa League final, but the stadium had large sections of empty seats.{{cite news |date=30 May 2019 |title=Chelsea's Europa League final win over Arsenal features swathes of empty seats |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11959/11731251/chelseas-europa-league-final-win-over-arsenal-features-swathes-of-empty-seats |work=Sky Sports |access-date=31 May 2019}} Football commentators also decried the lack of atmosphere due to the empty seats and lack of interest from local residents.{{cite news |last=Edwards |first=Luke |date=30 May 2019 |title=Hosting the Europa League final in Baku should serve as a warning... but politics and money often trump sense |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/05/30/hosting-europa-league-final-baku-should-serve-warning-politics/ |work=The Telegraph |access-date=31 May 2019}}{{cite news |last=Winter |first=Henry |date=30 May 2019 |title=Sarri victory sweet on sour night for Emery |page=76 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/eden-hazard-delivers-parting-gift-for-sarri-as-chelsea-thrash-arsenal-j9xxz8rtx |work=The Times |url-access=subscription |access-date=31 May 2019}} A report in The Times claimed that local authorities had opened the turnstiles for ticketless fans during the first half to increase attendance and avoid embarrassment, without the authorisation of UEFA.{{cite news |last=Ziegler |first=Martyn |date=31 May 2019 |title=Baku stadium open for free to fill seats |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/baku-stadium-open-for-free-to-fill-seats-3bz59j090 |work=The Times |url-access=subscription |access-date=31 May 2019}}

The handling of ticket pricing and travel logistics for English fans, including limited flights and visa requirements to enter Azerbaijan, was criticised by supporters groups representing fans of the two clubs.{{cite news |title=Europa League final: Arsenal & Chelsea fans face difficult trip to Baku |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48220247 |work=BBC Sport |date=9 May 2019 |access-date=11 May 2019}}{{cite news |title=Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal fans criticise Uefa for final ticket numbers |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48224809 |work=BBC Sport |date=11 May 2019 |access-date=11 May 2019}} Heydar Aliyev International Airport, the main airport serving Baku, was described as "too small" to accommodate the expected demand of the Europa League final, and was cited as a reason for the small ticket allocation for travelling fans.{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Hughes |title=Baku airport 'too small to accommodate more Chelsea and Arsenal fans for Europa League final' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/baku-airport-too-small-to-accommodate-more-chelsea-and-arsenal-fans-8w9tvm7l9 |work=The Times |url-access=subscription |date=10 May 2019 |access-date=12 May 2019}} Arsenal and Chelsea had failed to sell out their individual allocations by the deadline in late May and planned to return 6,000 unsold tickets to UEFA;{{cite news |last=Thomas |first=Lyall |date=23 May 2019 |title=Arsenal and Chelsea to send back up to 6,000 unsold Europa League final tickets |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11959/11726913/arsenal-and-chelsea-to-send-back-up-to-6000-unsold-europa-league-final-tickets |work=Sky Sports |access-date=24 May 2019}} several sponsors with their own allocations also followed suit, citing disinterest from their clients.{{cite news |last=Hughes |first=Matt |date=23 May 2019 |title=Embarrassment for Uefa as sponsors set to send back Europa League final tickets |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/embarrassment-for-uefa-as-sponsors-set-to-send-back-europa-league-final-tickets-3gc2vt5zm |work=The Times |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2019}} In an official statement, Arsenal described UEFA's decision to host the match in Baku as "unacceptable and cannot be repeated".{{cite news |last=Dean |first=Sam |date=16 May 2019 |title=Arsenal furious at Europa League final in Baku: 'It is unacceptable and cannot be repeated' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/05/16/arsenal-furious-europa-league-final-baku-unacceptable-cannot/ |work=The Telegraph |access-date=17 May 2019}}{{cite news |date=29 May 2019|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48451536 |title=Europa League final in Baku: Far from the pitch and a long way from home – the surreal final |work=BBC Sport |access-date=30 May 2019}}

UEFA was also criticised for accepting Azerbaijan as the host of the Europa League final, due to its ongoing conflict with neighbouring Armenia. Arsenal's Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan was given permission to play in the match,{{cite news |date=10 May 2019 |title=Azerbaijan indicates Mkhitaryan can play in Europa final |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/azerbaijan-indicates-mkhitaryan-can-play-in-europa-final/2019/05/10/235fffee-7349-11e9-9331-30bc5836f48e_story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517065516/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/azerbaijan-indicates-mkhitaryan-can-play-in-europa-final/2019/05/10/235fffee-7349-11e9-9331-30bc5836f48e_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 May 2019 |work=The Washington Post |agency=Associated Press |access-date=17 May 2019}} but the club raised their concerns about his safety while in the country.{{cite news |last=Lawrence |first=Amy |date=16 May 2019 |title=Arsenal face prospect of having to leave Mkhitaryan at home for Baku final |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/may/16/arsenal-face-prospect-leaving-henrikh-mkhitaryan-home-europa-league-final-baku |work=The Guardian |access-date=17 May 2019}} Mkhitaryan and Arsenal ultimately decided that he would not travel with the squad to the final match, while the club planned to meet with UEFA after the match to discuss the situation.{{cite news |date=21 May 2019 |title=Arsenal's Henrikh Mkhitaryan to miss Europa League final against Chelsea |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48348207 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=21 May 2019}}{{cite news |date=22 May 2019 |title=Henrikh Mkhitaryan Europa League final situation 'unacceptable' say Arsenal |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48366514 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=21 May 2019}} Several fans from the United Kingdom of Armenian descent were initially denied their entry visas, but allowed into the country after intervention from UEFA.{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Alexander |date=29 May 2019 |title=Soccer fans stay away as debate over Arsenal's Mkhitaryan clouds Europa League final in Azerbaijan |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/fans-stay-away-debate-over-arsenal-s-mkhitaryan-shrouds-europa-n1011261 |work=NBC News |access-date=31 May 2019}} Amnesty International's UK branch criticised the choice of Azerbaijan on the basis of its human rights violations, calling the hosting of the final an "attempt to sportswash its image".{{cite news |date=22 May 2019 |title=Amnesty: don't let Azerbaijan hide human rights abuses behind football |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/may/22/amnesty-international-azerbaijan-human-rights-football |work=The Guardian |agency=Press Association |access-date=22 May 2019}}

The first UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour visited eight European cities, beginning on 5 March 2019 at the Geneva Motor Show, followed by Seville, Berlin, London, Milan, Moscow and Paris, before concluding in the host city, Baku, on 16 May 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/024e-0f8e68bd3726-5cbd5c1d3382-1000--kia-motors-to-embark-on-first-ever-uefa-europa-league-trophy/ |title=Kia Motors to embark on first-ever UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=28 February 2019}}

On 13 May 2019, UEFA named Italian Gianluca Rocchi as the referee for the final. Rocchi has been a FIFA referee since 2008, and was previously the fourth official in the 2010 and 2017 Europa League finals. He also officiated the 2017 UEFA Super Cup between Real Madrid and Manchester United. He was joined by five of his fellow countrymen, with Filippo Meli and Lorenzo Manganelli as assistant referees, Daniele Orsato as the fourth official, Massimiliano Irrati as the video assistant referee, and Marco Guida as one of the assistant VAR officials. The other assistant VAR for the final was Szymon Marciniak from Poland, with his compatriot Paweł Sokolnicki serving as the offside VAR official.{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0251-0e9ce29797eb-331e59d2ca0b-1000--referee-team-appointed-for-uefa-europa-league-final-in-baku/ |title=Referee team appointed for UEFA Europa League final in Baku |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=13 May 2019 |access-date=13 May 2019}}

Chelsea's options in midfield were limited for the match; with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi both out and N'Golo Kanté facing a late fitness test after suffering a knee injury in training four days before the game, there was the possibility that Jorginho, Mateo Kovačić and Ross Barkley would be the three to take the midfield positions in their usual 4–3–3 formation. Defender Antonio Rüdiger was also a long-term absentee with damage to the meniscus in his left knee.{{cite news |first=Dominic |last=Fifield |title=Chelsea's N'Golo Kanté set to miss Europa League final with knee injury |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/may/26/chelsea-ngolo-kante-europa-league-final-knee-injury-arsenal-training |work=The Guardian |date=26 May 2019 |accessdate=12 April 2023 }} Despite Kanté missing training the Sunday before the game,{{cite news |first=Dominic |last=Fifield |title=N'Golo Kanté misses training but Chelsea refuse to rule him out of final |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/may/27/ngolo-kante-chelsea-europa-league-final-arsenal |work=The Guardian |date=27 May 2019 |accessdate=12 April 2023 }} he returned to the starting line-up alongside Jorginho and Kovačić after being rested for Chelsea's final league game of the season against Leicester City 17 days earlier. As well as Kanté and Kovačić in midfield, also restored to the team were goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, defenders Emerson Palmieri and Andreas Christensen, and forwards Eden Hazard and Olivier Giroud. Hazard was potentially playing in his final game for Chelsea, having attracted the interest of Real Madrid over a possible transfer, while Giroud was a former Arsenal player, having signed for Chelsea for £18 million in January 2018.

For Arsenal, midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan ruled himself out of selection for the match; the Armenian reportedly feared for his safety due to political tensions between his country and the host nation for the final, Azerbaijan.{{cite news |title=Arsenal's Henrikh Mkhitaryan to miss Europa League final against Chelsea |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48348207 |website=BBC Sport |date=22 May 2019 |accessdate=12 April 2023 }} Also missing was midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who had suffered a hamstring injury in the second leg of Arsenal's quarter-final against Napoli,{{cite news |first=Amy |last=Lawrence |title=Aaron Ramsey hopeful of returning for Arsenal before end of season |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/apr/19/aaron-ramsey-hopeful-returning-arsenal-before-end-of-season |work=The Guardian |date=19 April 2019 |accessdate=12 April 2023 }} and right-back Héctor Bellerín, who had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a 2–0 win over Chelsea in January 2019.{{cite news |first=David |last=Hytner |title=Arsenal's Héctor Bellerín to miss rest of season with ruptured cruciate ligament |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/21/arsenal-hector-bellerin-ruptured-cruciate-injury |work=The Guardian |date=21 January 2019 |accessdate=12 April 2023 }} In goal for Arsenal was former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Čech, playing in his final game before retirement, four years after making the move across London for a fee of £10 million. The only players to be retained from the starting line-up against Burnley on the final day of the league season were Nacho Monreal and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, as Arsenal lined up in a 3–4–1–2 formation.

English artist Jonas Blue performed at the opening ceremony preceding the final, and was supported by 150 local dancers.{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0251-0e99b5faeb30-990f89934452-1000--jonas-blue-to-perform-at-uefa-europa-league-final/ |title=Jonas Blue to perform at UEFA Europa League final |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=22 May 2019 |access-date=29 May 2019}}

File:Chelsea vs. Arsenal, 29 May 2019 32.jpg celebrating their victory following the match.]]

In a scoreless first half, Granit Xhaka had a shot for Arsenal that clipped the top of the bar, while Chelsea's Olivier Giroud forced Petr Čech into a save low to his left. Giroud opened the scoring for Chelsea in the 49th minute with a low header to the left corner from 12 yards out after a cross from Emerson Palmieri on the left. Pedro made it 2–0 in the 60th minute when he steered a low shot into the right corner from 12 yards out after a low pass from Hazard on the left.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2019/may/29/chelsea-v-arsenal-europa-league-final-2019-live |title=Chelsea 4 Arsenal 1: as it happened |date=29 May 2019 |work=The Guardian |access-date=30 May 2019}} Five minutes later, Chelsea were awarded a penalty after a foul on Giroud by Ainsley Maitland-Niles, which Hazard rolled into the left corner, sending Čech the wrong way. Arsenal pulled a goal back in the 69th minute with a powerful right-footed shot from substitute Alex Iwobi from outside the penalty area, but Chelsea made it 4–1 three minutes later with another goal from Hazard, a side-footed shot into the right corner from eight yards out after a pass from Giroud.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48368406 |title=Chelsea beat Arsenal 4-1 to win Europa League final |first=Chris|last=Bevan|date=29 May 2019 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=30 May 2019}}

The "home" team (for administrative purposes) was determined by an additional draw held after the quarter-final and semi-final draws, which was held on 15 March 2019 at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0241-0e983730b9ab-435ae30bc535-1000--2018-19-europa-league-match-and-draw-calendar/ |title=2018/19 Europa League match and draw calendar |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=9 January 2018 |access-date=9 January 2018}}{{cite web |title=UEFA Europa League quarter-final, semi-final and final draws |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/draws/2019/2000993/ |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2019|5|29|df=y}}

|time = {{CEST|21:00|localtz=AZT}}

|team1 = Chelsea {{fbaicon|ENG}}

|score = 4–1

|team2 = {{fbaicon|ENG}} Arsenal

|goals1 =

• Giroud {{goal|49}}
• Pedro {{goal|60}}
• Hazard {{goal|65|pen.|72}}

|goals2 =

• Iwobi {{goal|69}}

|stadium = Olympic Stadium, Baku

|attendance = 51,370{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/uefacup/2019/2025487_FR.pdf |title=Full Time Summary Final – Chelsea v Arsenal |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=29 May 2019 |access-date=29 May 2019}}

|referee = Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)

|report = https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2025487/

}}

|style="vertical-align:top"|300px

|style="vertical-align:top;width:50%"|

|}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-3}}

{{col-3}}

{{col-3}}

{{col-end}}

• 2019 UEFA Champions League Final
• 2019 UEFA Women's Champions League Final
• 2019 UEFA Super Cup
• Arsenal F.C.–Chelsea F.C. rivalry
• Arsenal F.C. in European football
• Chelsea F.C. in international football competitions
• English football clubs in international competitions
• List of football matches between British clubs in UEFA competitions

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|2019 UEFA Europa League Final}}

• {{Official website|https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20180623214422/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2019/final/ 2019 final: Baku], UEFA.com

{{UEFA Europa League seasons}}

{{2018–19 in European football (UEFA)}}

{{Chelsea F.C. matches}}

{{Arsenal F.C. matches}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Uefa Europa League Final 2019}}

2019

Final

Category:May 2019 sports events in Europe

Category:Chelsea F.C. matches

Category:Arsenal F.C. matches

Europa League Final

2019

Category:International club association football competitions hosted by Azerbaijan

Category:2010s in Baku

Category:2018–19 in Azerbaijani football