Arsenal eked out a slender yet crucial win over a resilient Fulham side to return to the top of the Premier League and put pressure on reigning champions Liverpool.
Bukayo Saka was the star of the show for the Gunners, with his corner leading to Leandro Trossard’s 58th-minute strike which proved the difference at Craven Cottage.
Fulham were a difficult team to break down for much of the contest, with Arsenal’s only joy in the first half proving short-lived as Riccardo Calafiori saw a stunning strike chalked off for offside.
Mikel Arteta’s side nevertheless found a way through and go three points clear at the top of the pile ahead of Liverpool’s mammoth clash with Manchester United tomorrow.
Follow all the reaction from Craven Cottage in our live blog below
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Fulham vs Arsenal LIVE
- Arsenal grind out a slender victory over Fulham to return to the top of the Premier League
- The Gunners put extra pressure on Liverpool who face Man United tomorrow
- 58' GOAL! Trossard finds the breakthrough for the Gunners [FUL 0-1 ARS]
- 16' NO GOAL! Calafiori stunner chalked off for offside [FUL 0-0 ARS]
Job done for Arsenal
22:00
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Will Castle
Arsenal are back atop the Premier League, mounting extra pressure on Liverpool ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Manchester United.
As attention shifts to Anfield, why not read Richard Jolly’s preview of the mammoth match as he delves into the dilemma shared between Arne Slot and Ruben Amorim:
How Ange Postecoglou surpassed Liz Truss in 39-day Nottingham Forest disaster
21:45
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Richard Jolly
The term hubris emerged in Greece and there was some distinctly hubristic about it, even if it was less Greek tragedy than a farce that stemmed from a pair of men born in Greece and briefly paired in Nottingham.
Perhaps Ange Postecoglou’s heritage was a factor in his appointment at Nottingham Forest. Many another realised immediately it was a stylistic mismatch between manager and squad. Evangelos Marinakis, whose choice of Nuno Espirito Santo as Forest’s previous manager met with a distinctly mixed reception but proved inspired, parachuted in a compatriot of sorts after one of the strangest sackings and then, 39 days later, delivered one that was both among the most predictable and brutal.
Postecoglou lasted a mere 39 days at Forest. It was the shortest ever reign of any supposedly permanent manager in the Premier League; some caretakers have lasted longer. His tenure was shorter than Forest’s iconic manager Brian Clough’s infamously brief spell at Leeds in 1974; shorter, indeed, than the time Liz Truss spent as Prime Minister, when she was outlasted by a lettuce. Next summer’s World Cup will be longer than the Postecoglou era, if such a word can be deployed. Clough’s 6,700-day spell at Forest was more than 171 times longer than the Postecoglou age, if such a term can be used.
Richard Jolly’s analysis on Ange Postecoglou’s sacking:
Report: Arsenal move clear at top of Premier League with tight victory at Fulham
21:30
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Will Castle
Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to three points after Leandro Trossard’s second-half goal fired Mikel Arteta’s side to a 1-0 victory at Fulham.
Trossard scored from a corner shortly before the hour mark at Craven Cottage before Arsenal were denied the chance to double their advantage when a penalty won by Bukayo Saka was overturned by VAR.
However, despite the contentious decision, the North Londoners were able to see out the slender victory to move clear of second-placed Manchester City.
Full report from Craven Cottage:
Bukayo Saka's penalty: yay or nay?
21:15
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Will Castle
Bukayo Saka contentiously saw his penalty overturned after it was deemed Kevin got the ball with his lunging challenge.
"For me, it is a penalty,” Saka said. “Of course I understand he touched the ball, but I feel a big contact on my right knee before he touched the ball. The decision has been made so I don't want to dwell on it."
Mikel Arteta wasn’t so sure.
"Is it clear and obvious if it takes that long?” he said. “I have just been told it wasn't a penalty, so they made the right call. I was surprised with how long the process took."
Arsenal want a penalty but after a VAR review Anthony Taylor says Kevin plays the ball so there is no foul ❌ pic.twitter.com/KEgN3kj4Rg
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 18, 2025
Sander Berge laments Arsenal pressure
21:00
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Will Castle
"Tough to lose like that,” he told Sky Sports. “I think we had momentum at times today - we were at it. Arsenal are a great team. They have shown that in the last couple of years and have probably got better.
"The pressure was too much and they got their goal. I think we didn't have the edge there to create what was needed. We have to move on and keep working.
"They're extremely good on their set-pieces we prepared well, but in the end we didn't manage to keep the goal out. We came out at half-time too deep. It is difficult to keep the clean sheet.
"We have been on an unfortunate run with injuries and have some key players out. I think everyone showed the strength of the squad today, even when we miss that many players we're still competitive and we can do a lot of damage to anyone in the Premier League."
Bukayo Saka on Arsenal's 'high standards'
20:45
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Will Castle
"This season we beat Newcastle who we struggled against away in the past, so it is points that in recent seasons we haven't been picking up, so we are happy with this result,” Saka told Sky Sports.
"It was a tough start to the game but in my mind I want to get the ball and make things happen. I think had a good performance which I am happy with.
On set-pieces, he added: "It is quite clear we are quite good at it. We have high standards for ourselves."
Mikel Arteta pleased with performance
20:30
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Will Castle
"Very good, it is a really tough place to come,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “We have experienced that in the last few years. We put a lot into it - we had some giveaways in the first half, but we became more dominant throughout the game.
"The simplicity in certain aspects with the ball. We had to change the structure as well to facilitate as well that gave us fluidity. They have been together for many years, so they know how to adapt.
"It is very early in the season, but it is great [for Leandro Trossard] to be scoring in the goals. Another clean sheet which is good to see, so I am very happy."
Marco Silva: 'Gabriel is impossible to stop'
20:15
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Will Castle
"When you lose a game, it is always a disappointing one,” Silva told BBC Sport. “They were at a very good level. We did create chances to score before Arsenal. They were more on that than on ourselves.
“We knew it was not going to be easy, a tough team to play against but I think we kept them away from big chances in the game. After the goal, we did react and started to play more in our way again.
"Gabriel jumps so high, it's impossible to stop him. It's very difficult to control. The way we tried to block his run, most of the game, we did it very well. We were too open and left the path for Gabriel. We didn't want him to run in that part. Any flick is very difficult to control at the back post."
Leandro Trossard speaks on Arsenal's win
20:00
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Will Castle
"Very pleased with that,” he said. “It was a tough game for us, especially first half the quality on our side wasn't there. We picked it up in the second half. We created some more chances and we're really happy with the win.
“[Set pieces] change every game. We know the opponent tries to adapt to us, so we have to adapt as well."
Arsenal eke out slender win at Fulham
19:45
,
Will Castle
FULL-TIME! Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:38
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Will Castle
Arsenal eked out a slender yet crucial win over a resilient Fulham side to return to the top of the Premier League and put pressure on reigning champions Liverpool.
Bukayo Saka was the star of the show for the Gunners, with his corner leading to Leandro Trossard’s 58th-minute strike which proved the difference at Craven Cottage.
Fulham were a difficult team to break down for much of the contest, with Arsenal’s only joy in the first half proving short-lived as Riccardo Calafiori saw a stunning strike chalked off for offside.
Mikel Arteta’s side nevertheless found a way through and go three points clear at the top of the pile ahead of Liverpool’s mammoth clash with Manchester United tomorrow.
FULL-TIME! Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:33
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Will Castle
Arsenal return to the top of the Premier League pile!
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:31
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Will Castle
90+9 mins: Arsenal have it in the corner. This should be it.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:31
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Will Castle
90+7 mins: Marco Silva is fuming - and you can’t blame him.
Traore does brilliantly to not only keep the ball in at the byline, but to also fashion a decent pull-back into space in the box.
But no Fulham player is there to gobble up the chance!
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:28
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Will Castle
90+6 mins: Substitution for Arsenal - and at long last, Norgaard makes his debut for the Gunners. He’s been hampered by injuries since the start of the season.
Gyokeres makes way for the ex-Brentford skipper, who won’t be popular in these parts.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:27
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Will Castle
90+4 mins: DOUBLE SAVE! That could’ve finished it!
Gyokeres turns and shoots in the box, forcing a save out of Leno you’d expect him to make, but Martinelli pounces on the rebound while the German is still on the deck.
Leno is equal to it, though, and keeps any hope of a Fulham result alive.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:25
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Will Castle
90+3 mins: Iwobi tries to create a moment of magic against his former club but is ushered out of play.
A look of frustration washes over his face.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:23
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Will Castle
90 mins: Another corner goes to waste from Fulham, with Traore lumping it deep and making it difficult for any white shirt.
NINE minutes added on.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:20
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Will Castle
87 mins: Kevin does well to win a corner down the left side, but his delivery is once again well dealt with by Arsenal.
Fulham try to keep the pressure on, only for said pressure to be released by a foul conceded by Sessegnon.
Fulham are running out of time.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:16
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Will Castle
84 mins: Brief VAR check over Diop pulling Gyokeres to the ground. It’s checked and cleared.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:16
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Will Castle
83 mins: Martinelli’s first involvement sees him go for a spectacular bicycle kick, one he doesn’t catch right and is blocked by Bassey.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:15
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Will Castle
82 mins: With eight minutes to play, both managers are turning to their benches.
Arteta has brought his goalscorer off, replacing Trossard with Martinelli.
Silva, meanwhile, swaps Cuenca out for Bassey and brings on Traore for Wilson.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:13
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Will Castle
80 mins: After a spell of Fulham possession in the Arsenal half, it’s the Gunners who get the best opening of the last 10 minutes.
Gyokeres breaks into the box but under pressure from a Fulham body can only fire into the neutral end.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:08
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Will Castle
75 mins: Exceptional defending from Gabriel, who despite seeming to let Jimenez slip away from him manages to get back in front of the Mexican and head an inviting cross clear, preventing the Fulham man from nodding an effort towards Raya’s goal.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:04
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Will Castle
72 mins: Has that decision just breathed fresh life into Fulham?
They’re enjoying a couple more forays forward at the moment, but as of now their final product is not quite there - another wasteful Iwobi cross bouncing in the grateful arms of Raya.
NO PENALTY! Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:01
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Will Castle
69 mins: It’s chalked off!
Kevin is deemed to play the ball - and it does seem like the right decision.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:00
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Will Castle
67 mins: Anthony Taylor is watching this over and over and over again at the monitor.
A decision is coming...
PENALTY! Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
18:58
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Will Castle
65 mins: Arsenal have upped the ante since scoring, and now they have a penalty!
Kevin lunges in around Saka’s leg and brings him down, causing Taylor to point to the spot.
The Fulham players are protesting and replays show he might have got the ball.
It’s gone to VAR...
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
18:55
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Will Castle
62 mins: It goes from bad to worse for Fulham as Cairney goes down again, and this time he will come off.
Former Hale End product and Arsenal fan favourite Smith Rowe replaces the Fulham skipper, while Kevin also enters the fray for King.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have brought off Eze for Merino.
GOAL! Fulham 0-1 Arsenal (Trossard, 58')
18:51
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Will Castle
That’s the breakthrough they were looking for!
The Arsenal corner is flicked on and Trossard is there at the back post to knock home.
The Gunners have finally found a way through this Fulham defence.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:50
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Will Castle
57 mins: Optimistic appeals for a penalty as Gyokeres goes down under the challenge of Cuenca - the referee waves it away immediately.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:48
,
Will Castle
55 mins: CHANCE! Great tenacity by the hosts!
Fulham don’t let the chance go away without a shot, keeping the break alive before Iwobi pings it back to Wilson to hit on the volley.
He catches it nicely but it flies over.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:45
,
Will Castle
52 mins: First glimpse of the second half for Fulham as Wilson cuts onto his left foot - usually a wand - only to absolutely blast it into the crowd.
No issues for Raya.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:42
,
Will Castle
49 mins: CHANCE! Saka scampers past his man into the box and it’s nearly turned in, but luckily for the hosts Castagne is there to block and hoof out of play.
It’s been a bright start to this second half from the Gunners, who also saw Trossard fire just wide moments before.
BACK UNDERWAY! Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:38
,
Will Castle
And we’re off again at Craven Cottage. No changes to note.
The teams are back out
18:37
,
Will Castle
Second half coming up!
HALF-TIME! Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:31
,
Will Castle
HALF-TIME! Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:26
,
Will Castle
It’s been a pretty cagey half between Fulham and Arsenal, with the net only bulging through a moment of magic from Riccardo Calafiori - a stunner that was quickly ruled out for offside.
As things stand, Arsenal will go back to the top of the Premier League after Manchester City took that spot on goals scored this afternoon.
However, a draw leaves the door open for Liverpool to find their footing again... a big second half coming up.
HALF-TIME! Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:23
,
Will Castle
We’re goalless at the break.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:23
,
Will Castle
45+6 mins: CLOSE! The last act of the half sees Declan Rice strike it firmly after some patient Arsenal build-up, but his effort lacks the accuracy as it flies past the post.
And there goes the whistle.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:20
,
Will Castle
45+5 mins: Rice delivers an inviting cross hoping to see Saka drift round the back, but he is nowhere to be seen as his ball floats over Gabriel and out of play.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:19
,
Will Castle
45+8 mins: Long-throw from Fulham nearly turns to disaster as Arsenal get a rare chance to counter.
Gyokeres gets the better of a charging Castagne to spark the break, but Fulham get shirts back in a flash, with striker Jimenez clearing in the right corner.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:16
,
Will Castle
45 mins: The injury gods hit another Fulham player as Harry Wilson goes down with a clobbered ear. He should be fine to continue.
Six minutes of added time to come.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:13
,
Will Castle
42 mins: King is okay to continue, but in added frustration for Marco Silva, Anderson isn’t.
He’s picked up a thigh problem and comes off for Diop.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:12
,
Will Castle
40 mins: Arsenal loft it deep to the back-post where Gabriel is waiting. The Brazilian knocks it down into the danger area but Fulham hook it clear.
The Gunners retrieve the ball and move it back forward, only for Anthony Taylor to blow the whistle for a head injury to Josh King.
It turns out King was actually caught by his own teammate Raul Jimenez. Safe to say the travelling Arsenal players are furious.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:09
,
Will Castle
38 mins: It’s Calafiori once again with the spectacular effort - firing just over on the volley!
He’s been Arsenal’s biggest scoring threat.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:08
,
Will Castle
37 mins: SAVE! Big stop from Leno to deny Gyokeres!
The Swede breaks into the box and shoots first time, trying to squeeze the ball under the Fulham stopper.
However, Leno is equal to it before pouncing on Trossard’s weak headed rebound.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:07
,
Will Castle
35 mins: Calafiori once again the man to let fly for Arsenal, cutting into the box before bending towards the far corner.
This time, he sees his shot blocked.
He’s not afraid to shoot, the Italian. Funny to think he was brought in from Bologna as a centre-back.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:04
,
Will Castle
34 mins: Cairney is back up and playing, swinging his arm around.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:02
,
Will Castle
32 mins: Look away now, Fulham fans.
Tom Cairney, who is covering for the injured Sasa Lukic, is down injured.
Looks to be a shoulder problem. Not what Marco Silva wants or needs.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:01
,
Will Castle
30 mins: Josh King tries to catch David Raya out with a deep cross that was looping just under the Spaniard’s crossbar.
He makes the Arsenal skipper work, flapping over the bar.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
17:57
,
Will Castle
26 mins: CLOSE! Another sight of goal for Harry Wilson!
He’s picked out wonderfully by Iwobi and gets it out of his feet well, but he sees his effort go agonisingly wide of the near post.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
17:54
,
Will Castle
22 mins: Increased pressure on the Fulham box as Eze fashions a shooting chance, only to be thwarted by a white shirt.
Saka then dances down the right-hand side and into the box, before his cross is deflected and is collected by Leno.
NO GOAL! Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
17:47
,
Will Castle
16 mins: What a strike that was by Calafiori - but it’s been chalked off for offside!
He sweeps the ball into the top corner as it comes across his body, but replays show he was indeed just off.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
17:45
,
Will Castle
14 mins: Another half-chance for Fulham as Wilson gets the run on Gabriel before aiming for the far corner, but his curling effort doesn’t have the bend needed and goes wide.
It’s been a shaky start from Gabriel.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
17:43
,
Will Castle
12 mins: Fulham work it nicely after winning the ball on halfway, with Wilson collecting the ball and slipping Jimenez into the box.
Gabriel gets across to deflect his first-time effort wide - it’s lucky Raya didn’t get a touch on that as Iwobi was closing on the rebound.
They try something different with the corner, floating it to Cairney to volley. The Fulham skipper hits it pure but an Arsenal body gets in the way.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
17:41
,
Will Castle
10 mins: First glimpse of a break for Fulham as King tries slipping Wilson through.
There’s just a bit too much on the pass, forcing Wilson to go wide rather than take the ball in his stride.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
17:39
,
Will Castle
9 mins: Gyokeres darts into space in the box and gives Rice the option for the pass.
It’s slipped into the Swede’s path but he tumbles over as he tries to pull it back, with no-one there to receive the attempted pass.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
17:37
,
Will Castle
6 mins: First showdown between Belgium teammates Trossard and Castagne down the left is won by the latter.
The Fulham right-back makes the angle difficult before Trossard slices his cross into the Hammersmith End.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
17:36
,
Will Castle
5 mins: Awkward one for Cuenca who has to defend the bouncing ball on the six-yard box and prevent Gyokeres from pouncing.
He outmuscles the Swede and Leno collects.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
17:34
,
Will Castle
3 mins: Both teams just ticking it about to start.
There are a fair few former Arsenal players on the Fulham roster today.
Bernd Leno starts in net, with this acting as his 126th appearance for the Cottagers - one more than he had for the Gunners.
Alex Iwobi is on the left, while fellow Hale End product Emile Smith Rowe is on the bench.
KICK-OFF! Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
17:31
,
Will Castle
The players take the knee, and we are underway.
Here come the teams
17:27
,
Will Castle
The two sets of players are making their way out under the Craven Cottage lights.
This one starts next.
Closing in on kick-off
17:23
,
Will Castle
We’re just a few minutes away from kick-off at Craven Cottage.
Can Arsenal extend their lead at the Premier League pinnacle? Or will Fulham thwart their title push yet again?
We’ll have all the action from Fulham vs Arsenal, right here.
The shared Liverpool and Man United dilemma tied to Slot and Amorim’s futures
17:15
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Will Castle
It is Liverpool against Manchester United and a manager is on a historically bad run. Not Ruben Amorim, either, who has equalled his longest winning sequence in the Premier League as United head coach (admittedly, that is only one victory). But Arne Slot has suffered three successive defeats for the first time; in his managerial career, not merely in his reign on Merseyside.
They have been counterparts and opposites, the men in charge of England’s two biggest clubs, appointed within a few months of each other, when there was a scenario whereby Amorim could have got what is instead Slot’s job, after comparable records in their homelands.
Each took a club that was somewhat starved of success in the previous two decades and feeling very much the third force in their respective countries, to the title, along with making a greater impact in continental competition. It marked each out as a rising star, attracting Premier League attention.
And there, perhaps, the similarities end, their paths diverging.
Read more from Richard Jolly:
Fulham vs Arsenal head-to-head
17:07
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Will Castle
Fulham have beaten Arsenal just four times since the turn of the millennium, with victory in the Premier League against the Gunners a rarity through the years.
That said, Arsenal have run into increased trouble against the Cottagers in more recent times. After a string of eight wins in nine, Mikel Arteta has only picked up one win in his last four against today’s opposition.
Among those games was Fulham’s only win over Arsenal since 2012, emerging 2-1 victors at Craven Cottage in December 2023 - a result that went on to prove pivotal in deciding the Premier League title race.
Can history repeat itself today? Liverpool will sure be hoping so.
Premier League scores on the doors
17:01
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Will Castle
The full-time whistles are being blown around the grounds in the Premier League - and it’s been some day so far. Here’s a rundown of all the results:
Nottingham Forest 0-3 Chelsea (12:30pm KO)
Brighton 2-1 Newcastle
Burnley 2-0 Leeds
Crystal Palace 3-3 Bournemouth
Manchester City 3-0 Everton
Sunderland 2-0 Wolves
Pep Guardiola’s ideology is dead. So where does football go next?
17:00
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Miguel Delaney
On Premier League training grounds right now, there’s a complaint that more and more players are expressing. The game is no longer primarily about finesse, speed or even transitions, as was the case as recently as 2022-23.
It’s about “duels, duels and duels”, as a high-profile defender privately grumbled. That is one of a few reasons that long throws per game have doubled from 1.52 last season to 3.03 now, and from just 0.89 in 2020-21. The method forces more duels in the box, which might bring ricochets, corners or even goals.
One of the best illustrations is one of the most prominent individual rivalries. Erling Haaland and Gabriel love to go at it, in the type of striker vs centre-back battle that Arsene Wenger lamented was d
