Arsenal
Manchester United Vs Arsenal – Robin Van Persie Reignites The Rivalry
And we are back in action with yet another big game involving Manchester United, who host the inconsistent Gunners in a crunch tie. Arsenal go into the fixture on the back of a victory, courtesy an amazing comeback from 4-0 to win 5-7 against Reading in the Capital One Cup, but will be wary of their poor defending especially coming up against the deadliest strike force in the Premier league. United will hold the edge due to their home advantage and the fantastic combination play of Rooney, Van Persie and Valencia.
Robin Van Persie Reignites the age old rivalryA victory will see United go top of the table and this should prove inspiration enough for them to seize the initiative. All eyes will be on Robin Van Persie though, as he prepares to take on Arsenal for the first time since his departure in summer. Theo Walcott will also be raring to show United his full arsenal of tricks, as he tries to convince Wenger that he is not an impact player. Moreover, United could be one of his destinations in January and he will be fired up to take on the challenge to prove himself a worthy transfer target.
The teams:
Arsenal head into the game without Gervinho, who will be out for three weeks alongside other long-term absentees Abou Diaby, Lukasz Fabianski and Tomas Rosicky. Wenger has ruled out a comeback for Kieran Gibbs and Wojciech Szczesny, but will give Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain a late test to prove his fitness. It is unlikely that Wenger would start Wilshere in a high tempo fixture so soon after his return to football, but will be forced to start Bacary Sagna to provide some stability in the back.
Probable lineup:
Mannone, Santos, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Sagna, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla, Podolski, Walcott, Giroud.
United head in to the fixture with no fresh injury concerns and may welcome back Phil Jones and Chris Smalling with a spot on the bench, as they have resumed first team training. Midfielder Shinji Kagawa and captain Nemanja Vidic will play no part in the game due to injuries. However, it will be the conundrum of strikers that Alex Ferguson has to resolve with all their strikers in top form.
Probable lineup:
De Gea, Evra, Evans, Ferdinand, Rafael, Carrick, Cleverley, Valencia, Rooney, Chicharito, Van Persie.
Tactics Watch:
Santos – the weak link: Wenger will be forced to start Andre Santos in the left back position due to prolonging injury of Kieran Gibbs. Coincidentally, most of United’s attacks come from the right flank, where the combination of Valencia and Rafael is developing into a focal point of United’s counter attacks. Unless, there is some cover for the left flank, we may as well see an 8-2 repeat result of last year’s.
Antonio Valencia will be the key man for United going forwardRooney-RvP-Hernandez: The arrival of Van Persie from Arsenal this summer has seen Rooney being pushed back into a deeper role. This has benefited the Red Devils greatly as it has solved the problem of United’s lack of creativity in the middle and has injected a sense of urgency to their play which has been missing since Ronaldo’s era. Van Persie has already scored 9 goals and has been able to slot in seamlessly alongside both Welbeck and Chicharito.
United’s back four: The young Brazilian Rafael will be charged with tracking one of Europe’s deadliest counter attacking players in Podolski and will surely have his task cut out. Though the United defence has been poor, the Arsenal attack has not found their feet yet and Ferguson will be hoping that Ferdinand can seize the initiative and ward of Giroud’s physical presence.
The Cazorla factor: Cazorla has been the main creative outlet for the Gunners this season, but there is undue expectation on him to create chances out of nothing. His time on the ball may well be cut out against United as his team mates will look to provide more defensive cover to the fullbacks. If supported properly, he could be United’s undoing as the 19-time English champions boast of an equally awful defensive form.
Key Battles:
The Gunners will be heavily relying on this pairBattle of the midfield: Arsenal clearly boast of a superior midfield and have no lack of creativity with Wilshere and Cazorla in their ranks, but will surely miss the physical presence of Abou Diaby. United’s midfield of Carrick and Cleverley pale in comparision and are very inconsistent, depending upon their forwards for creativity and trickery. If United manage to contain the Arsenal midfield, the match will be in their pocket.
Valencia v/s Santos: The left back position has always been a problem for Arsenal since Ashley Cole’s departure and they are currently left with the attack-minded Andre Santos, who has proved himself a big liability in both attack and defence. Valencia will be relishing to exploit the empty spaces left behind by Santos and his combination play with Rafael reminds me of the Neville-Beckham partnership, which left opposition defences crying for cover.
Rooney v/s Arteta: Arteta will be given the job of tracking Rooney, even if it limits their creative outlets as Rooney remains the focal point of United’s attacks. If Arteta can limit his distribution and track his off the ball runs, Arsenal can hope to get a positive result. Else, consider Arsenal done!
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.
- Liverpool14 years ago
Raheem Sterling Age 17 Kids 3 Women 2
- Arsenal13 years ago
Etienne Capoue To Become An Arsenal Player In Summer
- Arsenal13 years ago
Arsenal Defender Nacho Monreal Doesn’t Agree The Direction The Club Is Going.
- Arsenal13 years ago
Robin van Persie wants to move back to Arsenal
- Arsenal13 years ago
Report: Arsenal Could Sign A Striker Next Week
- Headlines13 years ago
Manchester United Preparing A (Javier Hernandez + De Gea + 55 Million) Bid For Ronaldo
- Arsenal13 years ago
Arsenal Planning To Bring In ‘Next Fabregas’
- Headlines13 years ago
Three Reasons Why Manchester United Must Sign This “Next Vidic”