Kevin de Bruyne
Premier League leaders Manchester City travelled to Villa Park to face Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon, as they were keen to extend their lead on top of the points table. Manager Manuel Pellegrini was hoping that his side could pick up a win and go three points clear of north London side Arsenal. However, things did work out for City, as Villa had other plans under the management of new boss Remi Garde and put up a resilient performance. The visitors had many chances to score right through the match, yet failed to capitalize on them. It was not a boring match and both sides fought till the very end. City had the better chances in front of goal, with Sterling and De Bruyne getting a clear goal scoring opportunities. The duo might have surely scored on any other night though a little credit should be given to Guzan who kept them out till the very end. A 0-0 draw was not the best result that the former champions of England were hoping for.
Player Ratings:
Joe Hart: 3/5
A good save to deny Bacuna in the second half though was not really tested in the game apart from that.
Bacary Sagna: 4/5
Did a superb job on the night on the flanks, as he put in some great balls for De Bruyne and Navas. Really good to watch him play on the right though there were no goals produced by the game eventually.
Vincent Kompany: 3.5/5
Put in an important challenge to prevent a pass from Gueye from reaching Ayew to prevent a quick counter attack.
Nicolas Otamendi: 3.5/5
Another defender who put in a good solid performance to deny Villa any clear opportunities to score in the match.
Aleksandar Kolarov: 3.5/5
Stopped the movement of Gil with a good challenge and the chance to break forward and Guzan nearly gifted him a goal, as his shot was spilled from a well-hit free-kick.
Fernando: 3.5/5
Hit the crossbar in the dying moments of the game and could have made all the difference, if it just had gone in. However, he was quite good in his main midfield role right through.
Fernandinho: 3/5
Some good passes to keep the game flowing and nearly scored as well after Fernando’s chance hit the crossbar and he got in a shot, which went wide.
Yaya Toure: 3/5
Was denied the pleasure of moving around freely with the ball at his feet and couldn’t really dominate proceedings as Villa were too good before he was finally taken off.
Kevin De Bruyne: 4/5
A lot of great crosses put in by the Belgian international for his team-mates including the likes of Sterling and should have scored himself as well.
Wilfred Bony: 2.5/5
Went off before the hour mark with an injury, as Navas replaced him and was better than him.
Raheem Sterling: 3.5/5
Should have really scored with the chances that he got. Plenty of opportunities to leave his mark on the game, but looked hesitant. Took some rather tame shots at goal and though he was quite effective, lacked the finishing touch.
raheem sterling
Substitutes:
Jesus Navas: 3.5/5
Troubled Amavi quite a few times and set up Sterling’s headed effort, which should have surely been a goal. Could have done a lot more, though Clark was in superb form and denied him the space.
Fabian Delph: 2.5/5
No real impact in the game, though he was always part of the action as City pushed for a goal till the end.
Kelechi Iheanacho: N/A
Put in the cross which Fernando hit the crossbar with, but did not have too much time to make a real impact.
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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