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Arsenal have had 33 shots in their past two Premier League matches. Just three of those have been on target and none have resulted in goals.

It is the first time since May 2023 they have failed to score in back-to-back league games, with midfielder Mikel Merino forced to play up front due to having no available strikers.

A win over West Ham on Saturday would have moved Arsenal to within five points of Liverpool in the live Premier League table.

That 1-0 defeat by the Hammers proved costly when Arne Slot's side went 11 points clear on Sunday after beating Man City.

Arsenal's title hopes were dealt another severe blow last night. They were held to a point at the City Ground on a night when Liverpool picked up all three against Newcastle at Anfield.

The Gunners are now 13 points behind the league leaders. Even with a game in hand that is some serious ground to make up.

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We turn back to the Premier League now with a lunchtime question for you all to ponder...

What has happened to Arsenal?

Alex Howell
BBC football news reporter

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has said that the prospect of an independent regulator in football has "basically paralysed the game".

The Palace chairman, who was speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit, is one of the most vocal owners in the Premier League.

"We have got the spectre of a government regulator as everybody knows, who unfortunately wants to interfere in all the things we don't want them to interfere in and help with none of the things we need actually need help with," he said.

"The dynamic of English football has worked outstandingly over the years."

Parish thinks that the prospect of new rules and a regulator is stopping the game from progressing.

"We are now in a complete paralysis because the government have put this spectre of a regulator and have basically paralysed the game and driven it into the courts," he said.

"I don't think that is good but I don't think it is the fault of the Premier League or the Premier League's leadership. I think that there are other factors that have contributed to that and they are doing their best to try and find a way through it."

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Faye White
Ex-England & Arsenal captain on BBC Radio 5 Live

European Champions [England] and World Champions [Spain] - you want to have the top bragging rights.

For us to be in a position where we are up there with the likes of Spain and America now and everyone is looking at England as the team to beat. That's another thing over the past few years England have had to get used to that.

In the past we have always been the underdogs. When you are the team that everybody wants to get to, emulate and get a win over it's a different mindset and a different way of coping with that mentally as a player.

It's going to be a great rivalry that we're in and it's nice to be in those shoes.

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Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Wembley

It has been a rocky few months for the Lionesses but their latest victory over Spain was proof they are still up there with the world's best.

Defensively solid, tenacious out of possession and dangerous going forward, this was England coming close to a complete performance.

"We played proper English," defender Millie Bright said moments after she danced along to the song 'Sweet Caroline' with fans at Wembley Stadium.

England had won just two of their previous six matches prior to facing Spain and manager Sarina Wiegman had been questioned whether they would be ready to defend their European title in Switzerland this summer.

The head coach remained defiant, insisting England had made improvements. On Wednesday night they were finally able to show them.

"Of course it gives us a boost. We showed again tonight that we can compete with the best," said Wiegman.

"We have shown that before and it was really good to show that again, maybe for ourselves. The fans who were in the stadium I think enjoyed the game.

"It felt a very good performance and I'm very happy. There are always things to improve but lots of things went well today."

Faye White
Ex-England & Arsenal captain on BBC Radio 5 Live

It was a really cohesive performance all the way from the keeper to the forward line and everyone played their part.

Solid, good fighting spirit. Sarina Wiegman and the players themselves said after the game that they wanted to get back to that - being resilient and hard to break down against what is a very strong Spanish team who would cause any defence and teams problems.

They also showed some nice flashes of real good quality in Alessia Russo and Lauren James as well.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Wembley

England put in an impressive display at Wembley Stadium to beat world champions Spain in the Women's Nations League.

It was the first time the two teams had met since Spain beat England in the 2023 Women's World Cup final - and England took their opportunity to make amends.

Jess Park scored the winner in the first half, pouncing on the rebound to Alessia Russo's strike and capitalising on a strong period by England.

Sarina Wiegman's side, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Portugal on Friday, have been criticised for recent displays but this was England closer to their best.

Defensively solid - albeit still tested by Spain's individual quality - and a threat going forward, they showed they can still compete with the world's elite.

The result boosts their position in the Women's Nations League table and is a big step in the right direction in their preparations for Euro 2025.

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If you're one of those readers who obsessively downvotes every mention of women's football on the page - look away now, because we're about to talk about the Lionesses...

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Newcastle manager Eddie Howe accepted that Wednesday's defeat at Liverpool highlighted the growing importance of Sweden striker Alexander Isak to his team.

The 25-year-old, who missed the match through injury, has scored 21 goals in 30 matches for Newcastle this season, including 19 of their 46 goals in the Premier League this season. Anthony Gordon is the club's next top scorer in the league on six.

“It goes without saying how important he is for us and you could see that,” said the Newcastle boss, after stand-in striker Callum Wilson missed a number of chances as the Magpies drew a blank against the table-toppers.

“It was a late decision [to leave out Isak], he just didn’t feel right with his groin. He didn’t want to take the risk and we have big games coming up."

Newcastle host Brighton in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday, and face play at West Ham in the Premier League on 10 March before facing Liverpool again in the EFL Cup final on 16 March.

"We certainly hope he [Isak] will be back for the final, we don’t envisage it as a big thing."

Newcastle United

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Newcastle manager Eddie Howe was asked whether Wednesday's defeat at Liverpool would influence their planning for next month's EFL Cup final, with the two teams meeting again at Wembley on 16 March.

“I don’t know - I am sure there will be things we look at and they look at," said Howe, as he considers how to end a run of almost 10 years since Newcastle's last victory over Liverpool.

“We will certainly take things away, we know they are a top quality team and have shown previously we have the quality to hurt them.

“Analysing this game will help us for the final but then Liverpool will say exactly the same as well. They are a high quality team with good players in all areas and you can see why they are doing so well."

Alex Howell
BBC football news reporter

It could be an exciting time at Crystal Palace over the next few months.

The Eagles are in good form in the Premier League and are one step away from the FA Cup quarter-finals if they can beat rivals Milwall on Saturday.

Thing looks to be stepping up off the pitch too.

The club originally submitted plans to redevelop Selhurst Park in 2018, but those were delayed due to the pandemic and the club finishing work on their academy upgrade.

But chairman Steve Parish, speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit, says work on the main stand should start at the end of the season.

Parish said: "Everybody knows we're redeveloping the stadium starting this summer".

The work will increase the capacity of Selhurst Park to 34,000 when completed.

Sander Westerveld
Former Liverpool goalkeeper on Radio 5 Live

Arne Slot criticised Darwin Nunez last week and everybody was doubting, like, is that the right thing to do?

If you could see how he came on yesterday and run all the fire in his feet. That's the way to manage players as well and it's really important..

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Liverpool's reward after coming through an intense run of eight games in February is a relatively sedate sequence of just four games in March.

Defeat to Championship strugglers Plymouth in the fourth round of the FA Cup means the Liverpool players will enjoy an unexpected break this weekend, when the fifth-round ties will be played, and will also get another rest at the end of the month, when the FA Cup quarter-finals are scheduled.

The Reds only have one Premier League game next month - at home to basement club Southampton on Saturday, 8 March.

But there is plenty riding on their remaining three games.

Arne Slot's side are next in action at Paris St-Germain on Wednesday (5 March) in the opening leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, with the second leg to be played at Anfield on Tuesday, 11 March.

They then face Newcastle United in the EFL Cup final at Wembley on Sunday, 16 March, before the majority of players head off on international duty.

Liverpool return for a potential seven games in April, kicking off with the Merseyside derby at Anfield on 2 April.

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March may not have many games in store for Liverpool, but it could herald the first trophy of the Arne Slot era.

The Reds ended a busy February with yesterday's comfortable 2-0 victory over Newcastle at Anfield that put them 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

They will meet the Magpies again at Wembley for the EFL Cup final on 16 March.

Eddie Howe will be hoping star striker Alexander Isak will be fit to return after missing the defeat at Anfield as he bids to guide Newcastle to a first domestic trophy since 1955.

Sander Westerveld
Former Liverpool goalkeeper on Radio 5 Live

If you listen to all the players, they say 'we need to win the next game and that's the most important one. We don't get carried away, we don't read the press, we don't feel we're champions already' and that's, I think, very important and you could see that yesterday as well.

Nobody's there just taking his foot off the gas. They go full in every game and it's great to see and that's definitely down to the manager.

Chris Sutton would like a word, Mike.

Liverpool have won 19 top-flight titles and will equal Manchester United's record of 20, should they capitalise on their 13-point lead at the top of the Premier League this season.

Arne Slot's side could also set a new record for the biggest margin of victory in a Premier League season, should they be able to extend their lead by another seven points.

Manchester City finished 19 points clear of Manchester United in 2017-18 when they won the Premier League title with a record 100 points. The Reds can get a maximum of 97 points.

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