Alex Iwobi came on as a substitute and scored a consolatory goal for Arsenal who were thrashed 4-1 in the 2019 Europa League final played at the Olympic stadium in Baku on Wednesday reports Completesports.com.
A brace from Eden Hazard and goals from Oliver Giroud and Pedro Rodriguez secured Chelsea’s second Europa League title- their only title in the 2018/19 season to go with their third place finish. It was the fifth time that the Gunners have finished runners-up in the past 40 years.
The London rivals have each played 14 matches in reaching the final of the competition with Chelsea yet to taste defeat while Arsenal suffered only one loss.
Following a goalless first half in Azerbaijan, the all-English affair burst into life after the restart with five goals been scored in the second half.
The Nigerian international, Iwobi came on for Lucas Torreira in the 69th minute of the encounter.
Emerson Palmeri sent in a flat cross, which Giroud did well to stoop down and guide away from Cech into the bottom corner in the 49th minute after getting in front of Laurent Koscielny.
Pedro doubled Chelsea’s lead spinning his strike away from Petr Cech after being teed up by Hazard in the box seven minutes later.
The Spanish international, Pedro became the fifth player to score in a European Cup/Champions League and Uefa Cup/Europa League final, after Allan Simonsen, Dmitri Alenichev, Hernan Crespo and Steven Gerrard.
Hazard made it 3-0 for Maurizio’s Sarri’s men from the spot after Ainsley Maitland-Niles barged into Giroud inside the area, gifting Hazard the chance to convert the penalty down the middle.
Iwobi gave Arsenal a glimmer of hope when he sent a half-volley flying past Kepa Arizabalaga but three minutes later Hazard tucked the ball home with a composed finish after exchanging passes with Giroud to kill off the contest for good.
Arsenal will now have to compete in this competition again next term as their route into the Champions League was blocked by their city rivals.
By Johnny Edward.
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COMMENTS
My main joy watching this match was seeing our own IWOBI showing why he’s tagged NAIJA MESSI since he came on for the gunners. Every of his touch were soo creative and if not for the wasteful trio of Auba, Laca and Willock they should have equalized with the chances he created. He was super brilliant all through with his great dribbling skills.
Going to AFCON, Coach Rohr should please start Iwobi from the wings. He isn’t a Main Center Attacking Midfielder and he will get the best out of him.
Oga Rohr have done it before and Iwobi wasn’t consistent, most times he was ineffective in that position. We all forced him to play Iwobi as no 10 which I think he’s doing well there.
Chairman, Iwobi is a no 10 natuarly not a winger. He only plays on the wing because Emery prefers Ozil, Ramsey and sometimes Miki there so he had to learn to play there. In the SE, totally different as we have several natural wide players and virtually makeshift central attacking midfielders. In the qualifiers he played 10 for us and was very effective. I would play him at no 10 with freedon to roam with Ndidi & Mikel behind. That would do some serious damage to our AFCON opponents.
yea iwobi did very well.
I agree as no 10 not a winger
some arsenal fans has becoming a bad influence on emery, they always blast emery for start a good player like iwobi ahead of weak ozil and legend of chances misser aubameyang…any i was glad seeing my naija boy perfomance better than great hazard own last night
@goal, read again what @chairmanfemi wrote up there. He said he should be used as a winger and not as no 10.
Well, I was full of hope again at the way Alex Iwobi played yesterday. He is always a game changer as a cameo, he proved himself at every time he held the ball..
Now, arsenal fans would never see the wastefulness of Auba, Lava, and Willnock but will always be quick to critize, lash curses if it were iwobi that missed those chances(one on one with the goalie).
I just hope Rohr will explore the best of all the players in the team without sentiments or favoritism.
I understood him, but I prefer Iwobi as no 10 than on the wings. we used to forget easily how ineffective he was on the wings prior to the world cup, and we all clamoured for him to play as no 10 , which Rohr capitulate to our demands.
You guys are misunderstanding me fa. What I meant was even if Iwobi was going to play as our Play maker, he should operate as a false 10(if there is anything like that) by starting from the Wings then cutting in as he always does best at Arsenal even yesterday. I bet it, assuming Emery started him in the middle yesterday, he would have been the biggest flop cuz his stamina is questionable as a real No.10
I hope you guys understand what I mean now
Now i get you. You are making a lot of sense. Playing Iwobi that way will work.
The best attacking threat to win afcon is to play Iwobi (10), Onyekuru (Flank), Chuks (Flank), Oshimen/Ighalo (Striker). And I would bet my life savings on Super Eagle winning the Afcon.
Except there’s an injury, we all know that our front three would be Musa, Ighalo and Kalu..unless Rohr develops liver overnight…these guys are like guaranteed starters
That’s the reason one of our ex player says that Rohr doesn’t encourage competition in the team. In my own view, I haven’t been totally confused about Kalu in the team and I always rate Simon over him, i believe If Moses Simon is playing for Bordeaux, he will surely be a starter too, let’s not forget they both play for Genk and Simon stats has proven his quality both club and national.
I have always been saying it that the problem of Arsenal is their fans. They are the one confusing that coach, left to that man he would have started a different team with Iwobi,Guendouzi,Mitchitarian if available or even willock ahead of that ineffective Ozil or wasteful pair of Lacazete or Auba but they wont allow the man to do his work especially if he doesn’t start Ozil. Well, am happy Iwobi shut their mouth with his performance yesterday even though he came on when the deed has already been done. Hope they will leave the guy alone and stop being pained that he chose playing for Nigeria ahead of England.
In my opinion, Iwobi is a proven No 10 for the super eagles. I beckon on G.Rhor to also play Chukwueze as a back up(sub) for Iwobi. Because both players are very skillful, have pace, pass well, great dribblers and they have hot eyes for goals also.
Pls let Etebo or Ogu play as a sub to Mikel @ defensive midfield. And our players should train very well on accurate free kick taking, set pieces and the best should be assigned the role (this is not abt seniority, but competence).
Thanks to all!
@Gritty Chukwueze will be first choice Wing Attacker, not back up to Iwobi.
@Ugo Iwunze, yes bro I concur. I meant they can both (Iwobi&Chukwueze) can play interchangeably wen necessary. They can even swap position during a game. They play similar tip tap football (two to beat one), first touch passes and tactical game. I strongly believe they can pair and understand each other along side Henry Onyekuru.
Iwobi is not good (according to some disgruntled Arsenal fans). He is not good at all! Yet, Iwobi is definitely one of Arsenal’s best performers this season. The Europa final was a microcosm of the entire season, as far as Iwobi’s performance is concerned. Before Iwobi came in, Arsenal’s attack was almost non-existent. Iwobi came in, and things livened up! Crosses into the box, passes, dribbling runs. Not to mention the wonder goal. I believe Arsenal might have had a better chance if Iwobi had started the game. The disgruntled Arsenal fans (most likely of the English variety who hate Iwobi because he chose Nigeria over England) will do well to stop antagonizing Iwobi, and instead support him. Otherwise, he just might take his tremendous talent elsewhere.
Left to me to advise Alex on him staying at arsenal or not.
I will tell him to take his leave.
Reason:
He has never been appreciated for his effort at all, all he gets is hate and insults from the ungrateful fans.
Check every arsenal goals, he his either the lead assist or the person that did the assist got the pass from iwobi after he must have done the major work.
Secondly, I understand he has his bad days but compare Alex’s bad days to Laca’s Auba’s Ozil’s and other team mates, and you will see that iwobi has more good games than any other person in the team..
Let me bow out here
Exactly. If bad belle will not allow Arsenal fans to appreciate Iwobi, then perhaps he should find his way elsewhere. Other clubs fans would love to have him.