IF you're heading out to watch the Europa League final tonight make sure you're armed with all pub trivia you'll ever need for the clash between Chelsea and Arsenal.
Where and when is the final being played?
- A lot has been made of UEFA's decision to host the match in Baku, Azerbaijan, almost 3,000 miles from the two finalists' home city of London.
- The Baku Olympic Stadium opened in 2015 and has a capacity of nearly 70,000.
- Anywhere near that figure would break the one-off final record for the competition of 62,000, set when Parma played Marseille in Moscow in 1999.
- The stadium will also host three games at UEFA EURO 2020.
- The match kicks off 11:00pm local time. Fortunately for us in the UK, that's an 8:00pm kick-off.
What's at stake?
- Firstly, the trophy of course, which, at 15kg is the heaviest of all UEFA silverware. There are a total of 40 medals for players and staff.
- For Arsenal there's the added incentive of securing an automatic qualifying spot to the 2019/20 Champions League group stage. The pressure is off Chelsea in this respect, having finished 3rd in the Premier League.
- Chelsea will be aiming to add to their five European trophies they've won since 1971;
- UEFA Champions League 2011-12
- UEFA Europa League 2012-13
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1970-71, 1997-98
- UEFA Super Cup 1998
- Arsenal are going for a hat-trick of European trophies to add to their previous triumphs;
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1993-94
- Inter Cities Fairs Cup 1969-70
Who is the referee?
The refereeing team in Baku consists of five officials from Italy and two from Poland, as follows:
- Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)
- Assistant Referees: Filippo Meli, Lorenzo Manganelli (Italy)
- Fourth official: Daniele Orsato (Italy)
- Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)
- VAR Assistants: Marco Guida (Italy), Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
- Offside VAR: Paweł Sokolnicki (Poland)
Did you know?
- Chelsea will be the home team tonight. This was pre-determined in a draw prior to the semi-finals.
- Both finalists may wear their first-choice colours and if there is a clash then the club designated as the away team (i.e. Arsenal) must don an alternative kit.
- Tonight's match will be the 11th time that two teams from the same country will contest the final of the UEFA Cup / Europa League competition.
- Since 2005-06 Spaniards Sevilla (5 times) or Atletico Madrid (3) have won the trophy on eight occasions between them.
- Having previously been played over two legs, the one-off final has seen just two 0-0 draws since 1998. Arsenal featured in the first when they lost out to Galatasaray on penalties.
- Arsenal vs Chelsea will be the first fixture to played in the FA Cup final, League Cup final and a major European final.
- This will be the first UEFA Europa League fixture to use the video assistant referee (VAR) system.
- A fourth substitution will be permitted for each side if the final goes to extra time.
- Arsenal have faced opponents from 27 different nations and beaten teams from 26 of those countries, with the only exception being against English clubs.
- Arsenal coach, Unai Emery has already won the competition three times (2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16) with Sevilla. Emery has been involved in 73 Europa League matches with the next nearest manager at 52.
- The two previous Italians to manage an English club in a major European final have managed Chelsea to victory – Gianluca Vialli in the 1998 Cup Winners' Cup final and Roberto Di Matteo in the 2012 Champions League final.
- Arsenal have posted 5 clean sheets in the competition this year to date.
- Chelsea are unbeaten in the competition in 17 games, a record. The streak started in April 2013.
- Chelsea are top scorers in this season's Europa League with 32 goals. They also boast the most shots on target with 229. Arsenal have managed 174.
- Oliveir Giroud is joint top goalscorer in the competition, on 10 goals alongside Eintracht Franfurt's Luka Jovic.
What are the Odds?
To win in 90 minutes
- Chelsea 5/4 Betway
- Draw 12/5 BetVictor
- Arsenal 11/4 Bet365
To win the trophy
- Chelsea 8/11 Betfred
- Arsenal 5/4 Boylesports
Leagues Tipped: UEFA Europa League
