[Teams] Chelsea vs Arsenal: Confirmed line-ups for the Europa League final

Arsenal take on Premier League rivals Chelsea in the Europa League final at the Olympic Stadium in Baku this evening.

Maurizio Sarri has risked N’Golo Kante from the start despite the Frenchman being considered as a major doubt for the game. Kante lines-up in midfield alongside Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic with Ross Barkley on the bench.

Emerson Palmeiri is preferred ahead of Marcos Alonso at left-back for Chelsea while Pedro joins Eden Hazard and Olivier Giroud in attack. That means Gonzalo Higuain and Willian have to make do with places on the bench.

Unai Emery has opted to start Petr Cech in goal with number one Bernd Leno on the bench. It’s a brave call from the Arsenal boss considering Cech is expected to become Chelsea’s sporting director when he retires next month.

Arsenal line-up with a back three of Sokratis, Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal with Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Sead Kolasinac in the wing-back positions. Lucas Torreira starts alongside Granit Xhaka in midfield.

Mesut Ozil is given the nod for the Gunners and the German playmaker will support Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette in attack. Danny Welbeck makes the bench after returning to full fitness.

Both teams are allowed a maximum of 12 substitutes so the managers have plenty of options to choose from.

Here are the confirmed line-ups:

Chelsea

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

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

Arsenal

Cech; Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal; Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Torreira, Kolasinac; Ozil; Aubameyang, Lacazette

Subs: Leno, Lichtstiener, Mustafi, Jenkinson, Elneny, Guendouzi, Willock, Saka, Iliev, Iwobi, Nketiah, Welbeck.