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Manchester City cut Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League to just two points after holding out for a classic win at Fulham, as Erling Haaland broke another record.
That’s when the Gunners will have a chance to respond Face Brentford on Wednesday But Pep Guardiola’s side showed enough – in attack, anyway – to ensure we really do have a title race on our hands this season.
They led 5-1 at Craven Cottage but then closed down and eventually hung on for three vital points.
Haaland became the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League He scored the goals that pushed City forward His century on his 111th appearancebeating Alan Shearer’s long-standing mark of 124 games. The Norwegian striker is the 35th player to join the 100 club.
City should have been ahead within six minutes after Haaland was played on goal but hit the inside of the post when he looked certain to score.
The 25-year-old then smashed the opener in the driving London rain with beauty for his 15th league strike of the season, meeting Jeremy Doku’s low cross with a left-footed shot wide from the left.
City were finding their feet and made it two before the break with another fine goal. Haaland was the provider this time, rolling in his man before playing in Tijani Rejenders, who chipped past Bernd Leno for his first goal since his start.
Foden, back to his best form in recent weeks, made it three when Leno’s delicate punch from a corner was collected and hammered back with his left foot.
City were on the prowl, but Emile Smith-Rowe closed to reduce the deficit in first-half stoppage time with a superbly skilful header past Gigi Donnarumma from an unlikely angle.
But Foden took just three minutes into the second half to make it 4-1, firing in at the near post after Haaland assisted another low cross from Doku.
Doku was involved in everything and hit a curling effort that curled over the hapless Leno and high into the corner – a strike that was credited as an own goal by Sander Berge.
It was Fulham’s first ever five defeats in a Premier League game, but they reacted immediately and pulled one back, Alex Iwobi hitting a superb curling shot from the edge of the box.
Haaland headed in front of the post and Fulham made it 5-3 moments later when substitute Samuel Chukwuz hit a loose ball on the half volley.
Chukwueze then repeated the trick in the 78th minute with another half-cleared cross and a shot on goal to make it 5-4.
It has been 12 years since 10 goals were scored in a Premier League match and despite Fulham’s best efforts they were unable to force a leveler in eight extra minutes.
