Chelsea and Arsenal, Favorites?

This year’s edition of the Europa league has in contention two of England’s big boys, Chelsea and Arsenal. Both are huge favorites for the trophy as the latter got to the final of the competition in the previous edition. Defending champions Atletico Madrid are contending for the bigger version of this trophy, the champion’s league. This leaves the only scenario for defending their trophy to the hands of losing and dropping to the Europa league.

Chelsea

FA cup winners ‘The Blues’ are huge favorites to win the Europa league for the second time in the clubs history. The London club failed to finish in the top four last season which almost meant a failure to participate in the champion’s league.
New manager, Maurizio Sarri’s debut season will be one filled with pressure, as he has been called up to move the club up the ranks. Hence making sure they finish in the top four alongside winning the Europa league. Sarri has definitely had an impact on his new team in his first few months. Despite a loss to Manchester city in the community shield at the start of the season they look more dangerous.

FIRST FIXTURE

PAOK VS CHELSEA

Chelsea take on the Greek team in this evening’s game as they look to begin their campaign. No doubt there would be heavy rotations to the squad during the duration of this tournament. I think they have more than enough to get the job done.

KEY STATS

• This would be first time Chelsea would be competing in this completion since the 2012/2013 edition which they eventually won, defeating Benfica in the final.
• They have the Europa league cup once and might be looking to another silverware .

PICK

Chelsea should be able to get their campaign started with a win here. With their present kind of play and goal scoring form. OVER 2.5 goals would not be far fetched.

Arsenal

The gunners under new manager Unai Emery are looking like a revived side. After failing to win the trophy last year by losing to Atletico Madrid in the semi finals. They return to the competition with an aim to win it and also return to the bigger stage, the champion’s league.
The new season did not start well for the north London team as they fell to defeats from Manchester city and Chelsea. Nevertheless, they have since recorded wins in their following fixtures.
Unai Emery is more likely to be regarded as a Europa league specialist as the Spaniard has shown in the past. The former Sevilla boss guided his team to a three consecutive Europa league success. He would surely be hoping to add one of those to the arsenal trophy room.

FIRST FIXTURE

ARSENAL VS VORSKLA

The home team would be looking to make a statement in this first home game and considering they made it to the semi final the last time it should be a straight forward fixture. Vorskla on the other hand made it to the competitions group stage only for the second time. The away outfit should take their chances in front of goal considering that the gunners have conceded nine goals in five games.

KEY STATS

• Three of Arsenals last four games have seen at least four goals.
• Four of Vorskla’s last seven Europa League games have seen over 3.5 goals

PICK

Home win and over 2.5 goals