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Arsene Wenger criticises Arsenal players for their ‘collapse’ against Chelsea in Europa League final


Arsene Wenger was not happy with Arsenal’s display in the Europa League final (beIN Sports)

Arsene Wenger has criticised Arsenal’s players for their ‘collapse’ in the Europa League final against Chelsea earlier this week.

Unai Emery’s side needed to win the final to qualify for next season’s Champions League but Maurizio Sarri’s men sealed a 4-1 victory in Baku.

After a goalless first half, Olivier Giroud opened the scoring in the 49th minute before a quick-fire double from Pedro and Eden Hazard gave Chelsea a 3-0 lead.

Alex Iwobi scored an impressive long-range goal to hand Arsenal a lifeline but their hopes were quickly extinguished as Hazard netted his second of the game to restore Chelsea’s three-goal cushion.

And Wenger admits he was unhappy with the performance of Emery’s side during the second half.

Arsenal ‘collapsed’ against Chelsea, claims Wenger (Getty Images)

‘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.

‘After that, 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.

Unai Emery faces another season in the Europa League with Arsenal (Getty Images)

‘I would say even in the Champions League group stage, when you have a difficult game over the weekend, sometimes even in the group stage because you’re close to qualifying.

‘The Premier League is so difficult that until the quarter-final the teams play with [players] who do not play in the Premier League.

‘I think in recent years it’s always the team who got knocked out in the Champions League group stage who won many, many years in the Europa League.’





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