Arsenal’s Season-Ending Slump Raises Concerns for New Campaign

Arsenal currently hold a four-point lead in the Premier League standings with 12 matches remaining, raising questions about whether past trends will continue to unfold.

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Arsenal's chance to regain a six-point lead was thwarted as they drew 1-1 with Brentford.

The title race pressure is mounting for Arsenal, and their 1-1 draw at Brentford may mark a turning point for Mikel Arteta's team.

Despite being four points clear at the top of the Premier League with only three losses this season, Arsenal's lead seems tenuous with Manchester City, managed by Pep Guardiola, in pursuit.

A win over Brentford would have given Arsenal a six-point cushion, and a subsequent victory over Wolves would have extended their lead to nine points before Manchester City's next match.

Manchester City's history of remarkable title-chasing form and Arsenal's consecutive second-place finishes may contribute to the feeling that the Gunners' lead is not insurmountable.

With 12 games remaining, Arsenal's past end-of-season performances do not inspire confidence.

In the last five seasons, Arsenal have only won 10 of their final 12 Premier League matches once.

During this period, the team that ultimately won the title has consistently accumulated more points in their final 12 games than Arsenal.

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Arteta stated that Arsenal allowed the game to become chaotic.

Given Arsenal's history and the current title race, Arteta was asked if his team needs to remain focused and avoid panic.

"We need to be prepared to win every match," Arteta said. "Our focus should be on collective and individual improvement to outperform our opponents each week."

"That's our primary objective," he added.

Before Manchester City's dramatic win over Liverpool, Arsenal were poised to extend their lead to nine points.

However, Manchester City's victory, followed by their win against Fulham, reduced the gap to three points and increased the pressure on Arsenal.

When asked if playing after Manchester City adds pressure, Arteta responded, "I don't think so, as we've played well and won games after they have played this season."

This draw at Brentford was only the second instance, along with the loss to Manchester United in January, where Arsenal failed to win after scoring first in the Premier League this season.

Midfielder Declan Rice aptly described the season as "a rollercoaster."

"We can't expect an easy ride, given the quality of our opponents," Rice said. "We must maintain our momentum and belief, focusing on what we can control and blocking out external distractions."

"Our team remains calm, and we've done well to ignore the outside noise," Rice added.

The match against Brentford was played without centre-back William Saliba, who was absent due to illness.

Saliba's partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes has been crucial in limiting the team's concessions to just 18 league goals this season.

Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Arsenal's win rate and average points per game have been significantly higher with Saliba in the Premier League, compared to when he is absent.

The team is also without Kai Havertz, who has suffered a muscle injury after recently returning from a long-term knee issue.

In addition to Saliba and Havertz's absences, Arteta introduced Viktor Gyokeres and Piero Hincapie into the starting lineup against Brentford.

However, Arsenal's record with four or more changes to the starting XI is not impressive, with only two wins in their last seven such Premier League games.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown commented, "Despite the pressure from Manchester City, Arsenal are still four points clear."

"The team must bounce back from setbacks and demonstrate their fighting spirit," Keown added. "This title race is far from over."

Arsenal's recent history, including two second-place finishes behind Manchester City, contributes to the emotional stakes for their supporters in this title race.

Peter Crouch noted, "Manchester City's experience and recent history give them an edge, which can create nervous tension, especially towards the end of the season."

"Having Manchester City and Pep Guardiola in pursuit can be unsettling," Crouch said. "However, Arsenal would rather be in their current position."

Crouch believes Arsenal have a unique opportunity to win the title this season.

"The top teams, including Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea, are not as strong as they have been in the past," Crouch said.

"The bar has been set high in previous years, but now is a genuine chance for Arsenal to capitalize," Crouch added. "If they fail to seize this opportunity, questions will need to be asked."

The current state of the league presents a prime opportunity for Arsenal to claim the title, and they must take advantage of it.

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Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign

The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.

A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.

James Van Der Beek wearing a maroon dickie bow while smiling for the cameras on arrival at the 2019 Emmy Awards — James Van Der Beek's character Dawson was a famous fan of filmmaker Spielberg

Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.

Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.

A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.

The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.

It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.

Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.

Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.

At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.

In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.

Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.

Steven Spielberg arrives for the 98th Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, USA, 10 February 2026 — Spielberg made a surprise video appearance at last year's Dawson's Creek reunion

He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.

The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.

The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.

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Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance

Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.

In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.

The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.

Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.

Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.

The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.

A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.

After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.

With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.

The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.

Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.

Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.

In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.

A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.

Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.

However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.

A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.

Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.

There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.

For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.

A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.

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FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008

As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.

This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.

Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.

However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.

Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?

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