Chelsea scored four times in a stellar second-half display to dispatch Arsenal 4-1 and lift the Europa League trophy at the Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan.
The win in the all-English final gave Italian manager Maurizio Sarri a major trophy in his first season in charge and Chelsea a first European title since when they won the Europa League in 2013
After goalless first half, former Arsenal striker Giroud put Chelsea ahead in the 49th minute with a well taken header. The Blues doubled their lead 10 minutes later when Pedro diverted a cross from Hazard beyond Petr Cech.
In the 65th minute, Ainsley Maitland-Niles concede a penalty after colliding with Giroud and Hazard stepped up to score the resultant spot kick.
Substitute Alex Iwobi clawed a goal back for Arsenal but Chelsea restored their three-goal cushion in the 72nd minute after Hazard and Giroud exchanged passes before the French forward scored his second of the night.
After the match, the Belgian star confirmed that he was likely to leave the club this summer, amid widespread speculation about a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
“I think it is a goodbye but in football, you never know,” said Hazard, who was given an ovation by Chelsea fans when he was substituted in the closing minutes.
“My dream was to play in the Premier League. I did this for seven years for one of the biggest clubs in the world. Maybe it’s time for a new challenge.”
By contrast, Arsenal have lost five of their six major European finals, with their only victory coming in the 1994 Cup Winners’ Cup against Parma.
Fresh from winning the first major title of his managerial career, Sarri said he was happy in his role, despite persistent speculation he is close to a return to Italy after a tumultuous season in London.
“You know very well that I love the Premier League, the level of the competition,” he told reporters. “I am lucky because I am in Chelsea, one of the best clubs in the Premier League, one of the best championships in the world,” he said.
Arsenal now face a third consecutive season outside the Champions League, which could hurt its ability to attract transfer targets in the summer.
“We need the same players, the same idea, maybe also to add some new players,” said coach Unai Emery, a three-time Europa League winner with Sevilla. “But it’s the same way we’ve done this year, to do one step more. I think next year a lot of players who played the first time this year with us can be better.”
For his part, Petr Cech – the veteran Arsenal goalkeeper who is expected this summer to return in an administrative role to Chelsea, the team he spent his best footballing years – said: “It’s disappointing to have lost the final and especially now.”
“It was the last game of my career and you want to finish on a high, but I had an amazing career,” he added, noting that ending the season empty-handed was unfair to Arsenal, which was improving fast.
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