Arsenal stay top, Postecoglou sacked after 39 days, Haaland on fire for Man City

By Administrator

Published on 10/20/2025 07:14

Sports

Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jan Paul van Hecke and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Lewis Dunk in action as Newcastle United’s Nick Woltemade heads at goal at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton October 18, 2025.

LONDON — Arsenal remained top of the table as the Premier League resumed thanks to a gritty 1-0 win at Fulham but Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest nightmare ended in the sack after 39 days following a 3-0 home loss to Chelsea yesterday.

While Postecoglou’s brutal departure made him the shortest-serving permanent Premier League manager to be sacked mid-season, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola marked his 3,397th day in charge with his team briefly reaching the summit.

Erling Haaland took his league tally this season to 11 in eight games with both goals in City’s 2-0 home win over Everton — a result that temporarily put City above Arsenal on goals scored.

But Arsenal responded in the late kickoff at Craven Cottage with Leandro Trossard kneeing in from close-range from a corner.

Arsenal, who kept a fifth league clean sheet of the season, have 19 points from eight games with City on 16. Champions Liverpool, who host Manchester United today, have 15 points.

Crystal Palace and Bournemouth produced a 3-3 thriller at Selhurst Park with Jean-Philippe Mateta bagging a hat-trick for the hosts who trailed 2-0 and 3-2.

Newcastle United striker Nick Woltemade scored for the fifth game in succession for club and country but it was not enough for his side who went down 2-1 at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Promoted Sunderland’s impressive start continued as they beat bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 while Burnley moved out of the bottom three by beating Leeds United 2-0.

Arsenal were not at their best but did enough to beat Fulham with another set-piece routine proving decisive.

Bukayo Saka’s corner was flicked on by defender Gabriel in the 58th minute and Trossard bundled the ball into the net.

“Very good, it’s a tough place to come. We have experienced that in the last few years,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said after his side’s first win at Fulham in three visits.

Postecoglou came out fighting in the build-up to yesterday’s lunchtime kickoff at the City Ground, saying the story always ended with him winning a trophy at his previous clubs.