All England needed to do was get a win to ensure they qualify for the Euro 2016 tournament in France. They were up against the whipping boys of Europe, San Marino and England made light work of their opponents by beating them 6-0. England gave starts to Jamie Vardy, Jonjo Shelvey and John Stones amongst others. They got the scoring started in the first half with Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney converting a penalty as he equalled Sir Bobby Charlton’s goal scoring record. They had 77% of the possession and had goals from Theo Walcott, Harry Kane, Ross Barkley and an own goal from Brolli to round up a comfortable win. We provide the player ratings for England from this Euro 2016 qualifier.
England
Joe Hart: 6/10
His rating is only low because he barely had anything to do in the game. The England number one will never have easier games than this one.
Nathanial Clyne: 7/10
Clyne continued his good Liverpool form with a solid display as right-back, though he was rarely troubled by the San Marino attack.
John Stones: 7/10
One of the easiest games for the young defender, he didn’t really have to do much but was good.
Phil Jagielka: 7/10
Another easy game for the centre back who would hope that such matches take place often.
Luke Shaw: 7/10
The Manchester United wingback was good for England and should stake a claim for their next outing in a few days’ time.
James Milner: 7/10
A work horse in midfield, Milner didn’t do much wrong in the game. He did have one good chance to score in the first half but missed out on a goal.
Jonjo Shelvey: 9/10
The star of the show against San Marino, granted they aren’t the toughest team to play against but Shelvey was excellent with the ball at his feet as he was a constant menace and created a load of chances for his team to score from.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 7/10
A decent showing by Oxlade-Chamberlain for England, he didn’t set the world on fire but did a good enough job to play in the next game.
Ross Barkley: 7/10
Got a goal and joined the attack really well, though need to do more against put a stamp on the game. He did provide Walcott with an assist after a mazy run though.
Jamie Vardy: 7/10
A good display by the forward, he should take a lot of confidence from this and it will be interesting to see how his club performances go.
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney: 8/10
The story for the game was whether Wayne Rooney could equal sir Bobby Charlton’s scoring record, he did so with the early penalty but could not break the record as he was substituted for Harry Kane.
Substitutes:
Harry Kane: 7/10
Kane might not have scored for his club yet but he did get on the score sheet thanks to Jonjo Shelvey’s great pass.
Fabian Delph: 7/10
Delph came on in the second half and did really well, he had a lot of link ups with the attack and that will help the English midfielder as the season progresses and he hopes to break into the Manchester City team.
Theo Walcott
Theo Walcott: 8/10
Came on in the second half and scored with his first touch of the game. He added another goal later on and this should give him a boost for the rest of the season.
Arsenal host Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in what could prove decisive for the Gunners’ Premier League title ambitions. Arsenal sit top of the table with 61 points from 28 matches, five points clear of Manchester City, who still have a game in hand, while Chelsea occupy 7th with 45 points after being held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Burnley at Stamford Bridge last weekend.
This represents a huge opportunity for Mikel Arteta’s side to put further distance between themselves and the chasing pack before facing Brighton away on Wednesday. Chelsea arrive at the Emirates in patchy form under Liam Rosenior, who has won just two of his eight league matches since replacing Enzo Maresca in January despite an encouraging start to his tenure.
Kick-off: 4:30 GMT, Sunday, March 1, 2026
Venue: Emirates Stadium
TV: Sky Sports
Kai Havertz Returns to Haunt Former Club
Mikel Arteta confirmed on Friday that Kai Havertz will train on Saturday ahead of the Chelsea clash, giving the German a chance to feature against his former employers. Havertz has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since early February, but scored the winner in Arsenal’s 1-0 Carabao Cup semi final victory over Chelsea earlier this month.
The 26 year old has endured a nightmare campaign with injuries limiting him to just 158 Premier League minutes this season, though he has still managed two goals and two assists when available. Viktor Gyokeres has flourished in Havertz’s absence, scoring twice in the 4-1 North London Derby demolition of Tottenham last weekend.
Rosenior Yet to Face Top Six Opposition
Liam Rosenior faces his first test against a top six side in the league since taking charge of Chelsea, having only faced teams sitting 7th or lower during his opening eight matches. His winning run needs proper context, given the quality of opposition, with recent dropped points against Leeds and Burnley at Stamford Bridge exposing serious vulnerabilities.
Arteta has beaten Rosenior twice already this season in the two legged Carabao Cup semi final, and the Spanish manager will fancy his chances of completing a treble over the Chelsea boss. Bukayo Saka should be fit despite limping off late against Spurs, while Ben White remains doubtful with a niggle.
Predicted Lineups: Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Disasi, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson
Also read: Kai Havertz Injury Update: Real Timeline and Medical Details Revealed!
Arsenal Dragon
Update Given Following Arsenal Injury Scare as Olivia Smith Discharged From Hospital After Being Stretchered Off During FA Cup Win Over Bristol City
Arsenal star Olivia Smith has been discharged from hospital after being stretchered off the field during their Women’s FA Cup game against Bristol City. The forward, who joined the Gunners in the summer, played just under an hour before being forced off with pictures showing a neck brace around the 21 year old at Meadow Park.
This was a worrying moment for Arsenal supporters watching on Sunday afternoon. The Canadian international went down, receiving lengthy treatment before being taken off on a stretcher as a precaution. Thankfully, the injury appears to be far less serious than initially feared.
Left Hospital Yesterday Evening
According to Arsenal reporter Tim Stillman, Olivia Smith left the hospital yesterday evening after tests were run and will return to be assessed this week ahead of the March international break. This is brilliant news for Arsenal, who cannot afford to lose Smith for any length of time, given her importance to the team.
It is believed that her involvement with Canada is still up in the air, with the Canucks facing a triple header of friendlies against Colombia, Argentina, and the United States over the coming two weeks. Arsenal’s next match sees them face London City Lionesses in mid March.
Big Boost for Champions League Hopes
With no video available for Arsenal’s cup game against Bristol City, there was huge concern surrounding Smith’s condition for those unable to attend the game at Meadow Park. Thankfully, what seemed initially to be a severe injury has turned out to be a fairly minor incident.
While Stina Blackstenius and Alessia Russo are both more than capable options to lead the line, it has been Smith who has been Renee Slegers’ favoured choice and proven to be a brilliant signing since her arrival from Liverpool. Having Smith likely available for both legs of the Chelsea Champions League quarter final is a massive boost for Arsenal’s hopes of retaining their European crown.
Arsenal
Arsenal Star Named WSL Player of the Month for January as Midfielder Continues Outstanding Form Following 400th Appearance Milestone
Kim Little has been named January’s Barclays Women’s Super League Player of the Month, recognition that follows her 400th appearance for Arsenal. The captain has made an outstanding start to 2026, completing every minute in the WSL and helping secure two clean sheets and four points from fixtures against Manchester United and Chelsea.
Little drove the midfield against United in the 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium and was again pivotal in the disciplined defensive display at Stamford Bridge that delivered that historic 2-0 win over the Blues. This is absolutely deserved recognition for one of Arsenal’s most influential players, who continues to perform at the highest level despite being 35 years old.
400th Appearance Came in Belgium
Little’s landmark 400th appearance came in Belgium as Arsenal won 4-0 at OH Leuven to close in on a Champions League London derby with Chelsea. The Scottish playmaker came on as a second half substitute in the 82nd minute, replacing Olivia Smith, to reach 400 appearances.
This achievement is even more notable given the time she spent playing in the USA and Australia during her career. Little has become one of the defining figures of the modern Arsenal era, establishing herself as an absolute legend at the club.
Chelsea Awaits in Champions League Quarterfinals
Provided nothing dramatic unfolds at Meadow Park next week, Chelsea awaits in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Arsenal hold a commanding 4-0 advantage from the first leg and are overwhelming favorites to progress to a mouth watering London derby in the last eight.
Little will be central to Arsenal’s hopes of defending their Champions League crown, with the midfielder’s experience and leadership qualities proving invaluable during the knockout stages of major competitions. Her consistent performances continue to set the standard for everyone around her.
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