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Europa League Final 2019 – Chelsea vs Arsenal team news: Petr Cech named in goal as N'Golo Kante is declared fit to start

The legendary goalkeeper will play his last game for Arsenal tonight

Jack Watson
Wednesday 29 May 2019 19:12 BST
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Europa League final in numbers: Arsenal vs Chelsea

Petr Cech starts for Arsenal against Chelsea f.c in the Europa League final, his last ever match as a professional football.

Legendary goalkeeper Cech revealed tonight's final will be his last ever professional match before retiring and possibly taking a non-playing role at Chelsea, where he spent 11 seasons.

Arsenal are without Aaron Ramsey, who is injured, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who has not travelled to Azerbaijan for safety reasons.

N'Golo Kante was a doubt for the London derby, but has recovered from a slight injury to play in midfield alongside Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic.

Sarri admitted Kante's chances of playing in the final were "50-50" after the French midfielder suffered a knee injury on Saturday.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi were already ruled out for Chelsea, leaving Chelsea with just Mateo Kovacic, Jorgino and Ross Barkley as their fully fit midfielders.

Victory for Arsenal will grant them a place in the Champions League next season, while a Chelsea triumph will crown a turbulent season and give Sarri his first senior trophy as a manager.

Full team news

Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Luiz, Emerson; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Pedro, Giroud, Hazard.

Bench: Caballero, Cumming, Alonso, Barkley, Higuaín, Zappacosta, Willian, Cahill, Ampadu, Gallagher, McEachran

Arsenal XI: Cech; Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal; Maitland-Niles, Torreira, Xhaka, Kolasinac; Ozil; Lacazette, Aubameyang.

Bench: Leno, Lichtsteiner, Mustafi, Jenkinson, Elneny, Guendouzi, Willock, Saka, Iliev, Iwobi, Nketiah, Welbeck

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