Arsene Wenger can be excused a little smugness as he prepares his Arsenal side for Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg at home to Villarreal as a bleak-looking season has suddenly burst into bloom. Last week's 1-1 draw in Spain makes Arsenal favourites to progress to a semi-final against either holders Manchester United or Porto while on Saturday they face Chelsea in the last four of the FA Cup at Wembley.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday.
Photos from the English Premier League matches played across England on Wednesday
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Manchester United suffered a double blow on Thursday with Daley Blind ruled out for a 'long' spell due to a knee problem and Radamel Falcao receiving a "new injury" that will keep him out for at least two more weeks.
Holders Arsenal won the FA Cup for a record 12th time on Saturday, outclassing Aston Villa 4-0 at Wembley with stunning goals from Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez setting up their one-sided victory.
Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo was poised to join Arsenal before Manchester United offered three times as much money, the Ballon d'Or winner said in an interview published Friday. 'I was within an inch of (joining Arsenal),' Ronaldo told France Football. 'I have a lot of respect for (manager Arsene) Wenger, he is a very clever man.'
Ahead of their high-profile clash on Saturday, check out the five standout clashes between Arsenal and Chelsea.
Arsenal enjoyed an easy 2-0 victory at Aston Villa on Sunday to soar to the summit of the Premier League and leave their hapless opponents rooted at rock bottom.
Alex Ferguson, the most successful manager in Manchester United's history, underwent emergency surgery on Saturday for a brain haemorrhage, the club said.
The result leaves Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's United in 10th with nine points, their worst start after seven games for 30 years, and they have won just one of their last six league games.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will be a "massive improvement" on predecessor Louis van Gaal, according to former Old Trafford boss Alex Ferguson.
Chelsea, Valencia and Lazio shook things up in England, Spain and Italy by climbing to the top of their respective leagues.
Arsenal's future looks to be in safe hands after a largely teenage side produced a sparkling display to thrash Championship (second division) Sheffield United 6-0 in the third round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Manchester United needed two late goals to beat 10-man Middlesbrough 3-1.
Arsenal landed a meaty blow in the Premier League title race with a 2-1 win at home to rivals Manchester City that swept away a few more doubts about their title credentials.
France defender William Gallas scored two minutes from time to salvage a 1-1 draw for Arsenal against Dynamo Kiev in their Champions League tie on Wednesday.
Chelsea's hopes of winning the Premier League title were rocked at Stamford Bridge on Monday when an injury time goal from Emile Heskey gave the relegation-threatened visitors a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. Although they were not playing, Manchester United were the big winners on the night as Heskey's goal left Chelsea five points behind Alex Ferguson's league leaders with only four matches to play.
Arsenal suffered another injury blow ahead of Sunday's Premier League game against Manchester United when midfielder Mathieu Flamini was ruled out for up to three weeks with an ankle injury on Thursday. The Frenchman suffered the injury in the first half of Tuesday's Champions League defeat by Liverpool when he was replaced by Gilberto Silva before halftime and the Brazilian is set to start in his place at Old Trafford.
Arsenal skipper and playmaker Cesc Fabregas will be out with a medial knee ligament injury for up to four months, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told reporters on Tuesday. The 21-year-old Spaniard, who was named Arsenal captain in place of William Gallas a month ago, was injured in a 50-50 challenge with Spanish team mate Xabi Alonso during Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Liverpool.
Arsenal skipper and playmaker Cesc Fabregas will be out with a medial knee ligament injury for up to four months, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told reporters on Tuesday.
Porto beat an under-strength Arsenal side 2-0 on Wednesday to clinch top spot in Group G of the Champions League. With the two teams already guaranteed a place in the first knockout round, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, in his 700th game in charge of the London side, rested several first choice players and chose to field young reserves instead.
A fixture billed as a pre-Christmas cracker was more 'In the Bleak Midwinter' than 'Jingle Bell Rock' as Arsenal's hopes of regaining top spot in the Premier League fizzled out in a turgid 0-0 draw with Chelsea.
France and Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud has fuelled speculation that Jamie Vardy is on his way to the Gunners by saying he has heard the Leicester City striker is keen to move.
France playmaker Samir Nasri has agreed to join Arsenal from Olympique Marseille, the English Premier League club said on Friday. Nasri, who will join up with the rest of the Arsenal squad for pre-season training on July 21, made two substitute appearances for France at Euro 2008 and has 12 caps in total.
Images from the Champions League round of 16 second leg matches played on Tuesday
Mesut Ozil quit Real Madrid to join Arsenal because he realised he no longer had the confidence of Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, the Germany playmaker said.
Manuel Pellegrini berated referee Mark Clattenburg and said his performance cost Manchester City victory after a breathless 2-2 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
rare header by Cesc Fabregas in injury time earned Arsenal a 1-1 draw at Sunderland on Saturday after the home side had seemed on course for an upset win when they took the lead in the 86th minute.
Hull City secured a stunning 2-1 win at Arsenal in the English Premier League on Saturday thanks to a header by Daniel Cousin that ruined Arsene Wenger's 12th anniversary as manager of the north London side. It was only Arsenal's second defeat in 60 matches at the Emirates Stadium and meant they tumbled from first place at the start of the day into fourth spot. Hull, who are playing in the top division for the first time, are sixth.
A text message saying "goal" sent to the referee's watch will end disputes over whether the ball has crossed the line in the English Premier League this season.
'Keep Calm And Carry On' could be Claudio Ranieri's motto for the second half of the season after Leicester City earned a 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday to put the heat back on Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Salah was seen training with a protective cast on his forearm this week but Klopp dismissed any fresh injury concern relating to the Egyptian.
Tottenham Hotspur reached the League Cup final after an emphatic 5-1 victory over Arsenal.
Arsenal resume battle with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League on Saturday.
Here are five talking points from the weekend's action:
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere will be out of action for three months after undergoing ankle surgery, the Premier League club said on Thursday.
Tottenham Hotspur's success in claiming a top-four Premier League finish on Wednesday to guarantee Champions League football next season has been a "massive achievement", manager Mauricio Pochettino said.
"This was one of the reasons why I took this opportunity. To train with all these personalities and this talent."
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
