Arsene Wenger slams Arsenal players following their dreadful performance against Chelsea in the Europa League final.
The Gunners lost a golden opportunity to secure a place in next season’s Champions League as they were thrashed by Chelsea 4-1 in Baku.
Eden Hazard scored a brace while Olivier Giroud and Pedro also registered their names on the score sheet as the Blues lifted their second Europa League title in Baku.
Unai Emery’s Europa League master class couldn’t help much as the North Londoners now will be participating in the Europa League for third consecutive time.
Wenger said, “I felt that in the first half we did quite alright but as soon as Chelsea scored the first goal we collapsed completely.
“In the second half we didn’t exist. It was a sad night for us.
“After that, I agree that until the quarter-final in the Europa League you play with a reserve team when you play in England because the Premier League is so demanding.
“I would say even in the Champions League group stage, when you have a difficult game over the weekend, sometimes even in the group stage because you’re close to qualifying.
“The Premier League is so difficult that until the quarter-final the teams play with [players] who do not play in the Premier League.
“I think in recent years it’s always the team who got knocked out in the Champions League group stage who won many, many years in the Europa League.”
