SPORTS WEEKEND PREVIEW
NEWS IN BRIEF
Chelsea face Arsenal acid test under Rosenior. Liam Rosenior, appointed Chelsea head coach on 6 January, faces one of his stiffest examinations yet when the Blues travel to Arsenal on Sunday. Despite a strong start to his tenure, Chelsea’s recent form has faltered — two dropped home points against Burnley on Saturday followed an earlier slip against Leeds — and the club’s discipline record remains a serious concern. Eight red cards this season, the latest Wesley Fofana’s dismissal against Burnley, have repeatedly cost Chelsea points at critical moments.
England’s Six Nations reality check. Following last Saturday’s 42-21 hammering by Ireland at Twickenham — the most Ireland have ever scored in an away Six Nations match against England — there is no rest-week respite available. The players return to their clubs but Steve Borthwick faces searching questions about England’s discipline crisis ahead of Round 4 in Rome on Saturday 7 March. Fourteen penalties conceded at Twickenham is simply indefensible at this level.
Harlequins Women’s top-four hopes under pressure. After losing to Gloucester-Hartpury and Sale Sharks in successive weekends, Harlequins Women sit just one point above the top-four cut-off ahead of the PWR’s return on 6 March. The break this weekend has come at a useful moment for Ross Chisholm’s squad to regroup — but they cannot afford another slip.
Fulham riding a wave. Three points at the Stadium of Light on Sunday lifted Marco Silva’s side to 10th on 37 points and ended a three-game losing run. Raúl Jiménez’s brace was a timely reminder of his quality, and Fulham now welcome crisis-club Spurs to Craven Cottage on Sunday in what looks a highly winnable home fixture.
Spurs crisis deepens. Igor Tudor’s Tottenham are the only Premier League side without a win in 2026 — a wretched run that now extends to their new head coach’s first game in charge after Sunday’s 4-1 derby hammering at the Emirates by Arsenal. They arrive at Craven Cottage in freefall and only four points clear of the relegation zone.
COMING UP THIS WEEKEND
Saturday, 28 February:
- Harlequins vs Newcastle Red Bulls — Premiership Rugby Cup, 3pm (Twickenham Stoop)
- Mansfield Town vs AFC Wimbledon — League One, 3pm (One Call Stadium)
Sunday, 1 March:
- Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur — Premier League, 2pm (Craven Cottage) — Sky Sports
- Arsenal vs Chelsea — Premier League, 4:30pm (Emirates Stadium) — Sky Sports
No fixture this weekend: Fulham Women (no FA WNL fixture), Chelsea Women (WSL international break), Harlequins Women (PWR break, returns 6 March).
WHAT TO WATCH
The Craven Cottage derby is the pick of Sunday’s card for Putney readers. Fulham, buoyed by Sunday’s commanding win at Sunderland that ended a three-game losing run, host a Spurs side that has lost all four league games in 2026. It is a rare occasion where the Cottagers are strong favourites in a London derby of this billing, and if Jiménez maintains his form the result could be decisive in both clubs’ very different seasons. Kick-off 2pm, live on Sky Sports.
Two hours later, Arsenal v Chelsea at the Emirates has enormous top-four implications. Arsenal beat Tottenham 4-1 last Sunday but Man City are only five points behind at the top, keeping the title race alive — defeat here would be costly. Chelsea’s Rosenior era has started on an inconsistent note and four dropped points in their last two home games have left their Champions League place vulnerable. Rosenior has Fofana’s red-card suspension to contend with. Kick-off 4:30pm, Sky Sports.
At the Stoop, Harlequins v Newcastle Red Bulls is a Premiership Rugby Cup tie Quins desperately need to win after two consecutive cup defeats. With progression at stake, expect a fired-up home performance. Kick-off 3pm Saturday.
LEAGUE TABLES
As of Thursday, 26 February 2026
Premier League (MW27 complete; MW28 begins Saturday)
| Pos | Team | Pld | Pts | W | D | L | GD | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 28 | 61 | 18 | 7 | 3 | +35 | WWDDW |
| 2 | Manchester City | 27 | 56 | 17 | 5 | 5 | +31 | WDWWW |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 27 | 51 | 15 | 6 | 6 | +10 | WLDWD |
| … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| 5 | Chelsea | 27 | 45 | 12 | 9 | 6 | +17 | WWWDD |
| … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| 10 | Fulham | 27 | 37 | 11 | 4 | 12 | -3 | WLLLW |
Note: MW28 matches begin Saturday. Full table updated after Sunday’s fixtures.
League One (as of Saturday 21 February 2026)
| Pos | Team | Pld | Pts | W | D | L | GD | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff City | 33 | 69 | 21 | 6 | 6 | +28 | DWWWL |
| 2 | Lincoln City | 33 | 68 | 20 | 8 | 5 | +28 | WWDWW |
| 3 | Bolton Wanderers | 34 | 58 | 15 | 13 | 6 | +12 | WWDDD |
| … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| 13 |  AFC Wimbledon | 32 | 42 | 12 | 6 | 14 | -7 | WWDLW |
AFC Wimbledon travel to Mansfield on Saturday aiming to build on back-to-back home victories.
Six Nations (after Round 3)
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PD | B | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +89 | 3 | 15 |
| 2 | Scotland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +11 | 3 | 11 |
| 3 | Ireland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +6 | 1 | 9 |
| 4 | England | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +9 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 | Italy | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -29 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | Wales | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -86 | 1 | 1 |
Six Nations on a rest weekend. Round 4: Friday 6 March — Ireland v Wales (Dublin). Saturday 7 March — Scotland v France (Edinburgh); Italy v England (Stadio Olimpico, Rome, 4:40pm GMT).
