Arsenal
Was Arsenal’s victory against Swansea City deserved?
Arsenal sealed a comfortable victory against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium by a two-goal margin in an encounter which was expected to feature a lot of goals. Arsenal and the Michu-inspired Swansea City searched for goals on both ends of the green pitch only to see the score-board nullify either teams till Nacho Monreal broke the dead-lock late into the second half.
Swansea created clear-cut chances twice in the ninety minutes of nail-biting football between the two genuine contestants. Angel Rangel spurned an open opportunity to put the Welsh outfit upfront from a sublime pass from Ki Sung-Yueng as he failed to test Lukasz Fabianski’s credibility by shooting wide. Carl Jenkinson got off the abuse that he’d receive from the Arsenal supporters as he played a loose ball which was caught by Jonathan de Guzman and the former Charlton Athletic defender must thank Michu for failing to terrorize Arsenal’s Polish goal-keeper in Lukasz Fabianski despite tantalizing Per Mertesacker. Swansea City failed to make any clear-cut chances after Michu was narrowly caught offside.
Arsenal, on the other hand, created too many chances for themselves only to see the ball hit the bar and get blocked by Michael Vorm of Swansea City. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain finally had a good game after a few sloppy performances as he almost put Arsenal ahead twice only to see the woodwork block his thunderbolt chances. His first attempt came after dribbling past a few defenders to hit the post from fifteen yards. Arsenal’s another upset came later into the first half as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain shot from thirty yards from an alluring pass from Santi Cazorla. Santi Cazorla in turn had his share of attempts and he was tactfully blocked twice in the first and second halves.
Wojciech Szczesny would not surely be happy as his counterpart in Lukasz Fabianski got the credit for keeping a clean-sheet by doing nothing in between the sticks. Despite the free-flowing football showcased by Swansea City, they never tested the 27-years-old goal-keeper at any juncture during the game. He was never made to do a reflex to prevent the ball from getting past the goal-line. The combination of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny yet again put up a decent show as Per Mertesacker dealt with the low crosses and Laurent Koscielny took care of aerial duels and last-man tackles. Carl Jenkinson proved his brilliance yet again despite a few nervy moments during the game.
Abou Diaby dictated the play quite well but he sometimes looked a little cocky since he decided to keep dribbling while he could have passed to an unmarked Olivier Giroud or Theo Walcott. Mikel Arteta had a bit of freedom to play his football thanks to the presence of another player of his kind in Abou Diaby. The Spaniard had his liberty to do a bit of attacking since Abou Diaby offered more presence than Aaron Ramsey who always has an eye for the goal. Theo Walcott had a nightmare performance as he often searched for the ball despite holding it in between his legs. It looked like Theo Walcott shouldn’t have been this stern over his contract issues a few weeks ago. Olivier Giroud was as usual less influential in the Arsenal’s play but he helped his team by running fifty yards down to contribute his part in getting the ball back from the Swans.
Arsenal’s substitutes in Aaron Ramsey and Gervinho did increasingly well to seal a remarkable two goals to nil victory against Swansea City at their own backyard. Aaron Ramsey wasn’t so selfish as he personified sportsmanship by assisting Gervinho who only had to stupefy Vorm to find the back of the net. Those few minutes showed glimpses of the Gervinho that Gooners used to witness in the early days of September.
On the negative note for the Arsenal supporters, the defense yet again proved its porosity as it was highly vulnerable to forward passes which was amazingly utilized by Jonathan de Guzman, Pablo Hernandez and Nathan Dyer. Arsenal failed to make anything substantial out of the sublime crosses from Nacho Monreal and Carl Jenkinson thanks to the stupendous defending from Ashley Williams who is in a form of his life.
Arsenal are just four points behind Tottenham at the moment with a game in hand and it seemingly looks like Arsenal are about to prove their dominance over the rest of the teams in North London particularly their fierce rivals in Tottenham since the Gunners have comparatively weaker opponents than that of Tottenham Hotspur in the the upcoming weeks.
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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