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
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 , Will CastleArsenal 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:
The shared Liverpool and Man United dilemma tied to Slot and Amorim’s futures
How Ange Postecoglou surpassed Liz Truss in 39-day Nottingham Forest disaster
21:45 , Richard JollyThe 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:
How Ange Postecoglou surpassed Liz Truss in 39-day Nottingham Forest disaster
Report: Arsenal move clear at top of Premier League with tight victory at Fulham
21:30 , Will CastleArsenal 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:
Arsenal move clear at top of Premier League with tight victory at Fulham
Bukayo Saka's penalty: yay or nay?
21:15 , Will CastleBukayo 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 , 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 , 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 , 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 , 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 , 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 , Will CastleArsenal 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 , Will CastleArsenal return to the top of the Premier League pile!
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:31 , Will Castle90+9 mins: Arsenal have it in the corner. This should be it.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:31 , Will Castle90+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 , Will Castle90+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 , Will Castle90+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 , Will Castle90+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 , Will Castle90 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 , Will Castle87 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 , Will Castle84 mins: Brief VAR check over Diop pulling Gyokeres to the ground. It’s checked and cleared.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
19:16 , Will Castle83 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 , Will Castle82 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 , Will Castle80 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 , Will Castle75 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 , Will Castle72 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 , Will Castle69 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 , Will Castle67 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 , Will Castle65 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 , Will Castle62 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 , Will CastleThat’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 , Will Castle57 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 Castle55 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 Castle52 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 Castle49 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 CastleAnd we’re off again at Craven Cottage. No changes to note.
The teams are back out
18:37 , Will CastleSecond half coming up!
HALF-TIME! Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:31 , Will Castle
HALF-TIME! Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:26 , Will CastleIt’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 CastleWe’re goalless at the break.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:23 , Will Castle45+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 Castle45+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 Castle45+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 Castle45 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 Castle42 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 Castle40 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 Castle38 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 Castle37 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 Castle35 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 Castle34 mins: Cairney is back up and playing, swinging his arm around.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
18:02 , Will Castle32 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 Castle30 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 Castle26 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 Castle22 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 Castle16 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 Castle14 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 Castle12 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 Castle10 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 Castle9 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 Castle6 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 Castle5 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 Castle3 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 CastleThe players take the knee, and we are underway.
Here come the teams
17:27 , Will CastleThe 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 CastleWe’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 , Will CastleIt 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:
The shared Liverpool and Man United dilemma tied to Slot and Amorim’s futures
Fulham vs Arsenal head-to-head
17:07 , Will CastleFulham 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 , Will CastleThe 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 , Miguel DelaneyOn 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 disappearing in 2014. One Arsenal figure described Haaland as “almost the ideal long-ball player” because of his physical prowess.
Read more from Miguel Delaney:
Pep Guardiola’s ideology is dead. So where does football go next?
How Ange Postecoglou surpassed Liz Truss in 39-day Nottingham Forest disaster
16:58 , Richard JollyThe 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 1975; 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 6700-day spell at Forest was more than 171 times longer than the Postecoglou age, if such a term can be used.
Read more from Richard Jolly:
How Ange Postecoglou surpassed Liz Truss in 39-day Nottingham Forest disaster
How Chelsea’s game of chess sparked a civil war at ‘feeder club’ Strasbourg
16:45 , Will CastleWhen Strasbourg were left bankrupt and demoted to the amateur fifth tier of French football in 2011, they were a club in crisis. Strasbourg are now vying for the Champions League. Again, they are a club in crisis.
At the epicentre of Alsace, a fiercely proud region on the French-German border, there is the sinking feeling that an identity is being lost – extracted from a football club that for so long has galvanised the masses like few manage in France. A string of alleged “deception and lies” has turned Strasbourg into an entity no longer recognised by a vocal contingent of its own people.
The stewardship of Marc Keller, a former France international and one of Alsace’s own, was integral to the club’s rebuild in the 2010s. But instead of being revered, Keller is ridiculed – considered the instigator of Strasbourg’s toxification. His sale to Chelsea owners BlueCo in June 2023 has obliterated any previous goodwill. To the fans, he signed away the club’s soul.
Read more from Will Castle:
How Chelsea’s game of chess sparked a civil war at ‘feeder club’ Strasbourg
England’s World Cup 2026 squad: Who’s on the plane, who’s almost there and who has work to do?
16:30 , Lawrence OstlereEngland have only two more camps before Thomas Tuchel names his squad for the 2026 World Cup, and plenty is still up in the air.
England’s 5-0 win over Latvia secured their place at the tournament, and they will reconvene in November for their final two qualifiers against Serbia at Wembley and Albania in Tirana.
Tuchel won’t see his squad again until some friendlies in March, after which he will have just a few weeks to finalise his group to take to USA, Canada and Mexico in June.
The manager has made clear that he wants to build a squad with clearly defined roles, and two players for every position on the pitch, plus three flexible and versatile additions to round out the 26.
But there remain major questions over the full-back positions, the composition of midfield and the plethora of wingers and No 10s to whittle down – with some big names almost certain to miss out.
So who will Thomas Tuchel select in his 26-man squad? Lawrence Ostlere details who’s on the plane, who’s almost there and who’s got work to do:
England’s World Cup 2026 squad: Who’s on the plane and who has work to do?
The teams make their arrivals
16:26 , Will Castle
Fulham get injury reprieve
16:24 , Will CastleFulham are without Sasa Lukic, Samuel Chukwueze, Antonee Robinson and Rodrigo Muniz for today’s visit of Arsenal - but a man who was considered a doubt starts up top.
Raul Jimenez leads the line for the Cottagers, while Kenny Tete - who was also a doubt - makes the bench.
Arsenal make one change
16:22 , Will CastleJust the one change from the side Mikel Arteta fielded before the international break as Martin Zubimendi makes fitness to replace the injured Martin Odegaard.
Leandro Trossard starts down the left while Jurrien Timber keeps his place ahead of Ben White, who missed training on Thursday due to “load management”.
Confirmed line-ups!
16:17 , Will CastleFulham XI: Leno; Castagne, Anderson, Cuenca, Sessegnon; Berge, Cairney; Wilson, King, Iwobi; Jimenez.
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.
SW6 squad. 🤍 pic.twitter.com/hRGzrWoT6r
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) October 18, 2025
🔵 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 🔘
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 18, 2025
Zubimendi replacing the injured Odegaard in our only change.
Let's lay down a marker, Gunners 👊
Team news expected imminently
16:10 , Will CastleJust a few minutes until we’re expecting team news from Craven Cottage - here’s a reminder of what we already know...
Fulham have been dealt a couple of major injury blows on the last couple of weeks. Sasa Lukic endured a groin injury 14 minutes into the clash with Bournemouth two weeks ago, and it’s been claimed that he’ll be out for four to six weeks. Meanwhile, Samuel Chukwueze was withdrawn at half-time of Nigeria’s 4-0 win over Benin with a reported injury, meaning he will likely join Antonee Robinson and Rodrigo Muniz on the sidelines. Raul Jimenez and Kenny Tete are both doubts.
Arsenal will be without their captain in Martin Odegaard, who after being substituted in the first half of three consecutive starts faces “weeks” on the sidelines. Ben White and Martin Zubimendi missed training on Thursday but Arteta put this down to load management, while Piero Hincapie could also be back in contention.
Viktor Gyokeres must stay positive despite Arsenal goal drought, says Mikel Arteta
16:08 , Will CastleMikel Arteta has told Viktor Gyokeres he must be able to deal with the pressure of not scoring for Arsenal following the striker’s alarming six-match streak without a goal.
Arteta said: “I told him before the first meeting, I said, ‘the nine that I want is a nine that when he doesn’t score for six or eight games, he can handle that. If not, you have to go somewhere else because the expectation is going to be there’.
“So, if you put on a nine shirt for Arsenal, you have to be able to say, ‘OK, six games, if I don’t score, I’m a different player? I start to act in a different way?’ No, I want much more of the same of what he’s doing.
“You see the history of the number nines. You’re going to have moments like this. He brings so much to the team. He creates space and solutions to a lot of the players around him. And with the talent that we have in the team, I’m sure that everybody, him included, will benefit from that.”
Nottingham Forest's 39-word statement
16:07 , Will CastleNottingham Forest mustered up just 39 words following their decision to sack Ange Postecoglou this afternoon.
“Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect. The club will make no further comment at this time.”
Who replaces Ange Postecoglou at the City Ground?
16:00 , Will CastleSean Dyche the odds-on favourite to replace Ange Postecoglou at 2-5, according to bookmakers Coral.
Rafael Benitez is 4-1 to make a return to the Premier League in the job, Steve Cooper is 6-1, while former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard is 8-1.
Ange Postecoglou sacked as Nottingham Forest manager after eight games
15:57 , Will CastleRight, onto the big news of the day.
Ange Postecoglou has been sacked by Nottingham Forest after just eight games in charge. Postecoglou lasted just 39 days in charge of Forest, the shortest managerial reign in Premier League history.
The former Tottenham Hotspur boss replaced Nuno Esprito Santo just three games into the season last month, but has been dismissed after becoming the first manager in the club’s history to fail to win any of his first eight games.
Postecoglou’s sacking was confirmed just 19 minutes after the final whistle blew in their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday, where club owner Evangelos Marinakis left his seat before full-time as home fans streamed for the exits.
We’ve got all the details of this breaking story, below:
Ange Postecoglou sacked by Nottingham Forest after eight games and 39 days
Beth Mead and Alessia Russo guide Arsenal to first win of Champions League campaign
15:40 , Will CastleIt was a big week on the women’s side of things in N5 as Champions League holders Arsenal got their continental campaign up and running with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Benfica in Lisbon.
After a low-key first half, Arsenal - beaten by Lyon in their opening fixture of the new-look league phase - went ahead through a scrappy goal from Beth Mead just before the hour.
The Gunners - having ended a four-match winless run with victory over Brighton in the Women's Super League on Sunday - made sure of three points when Alessia Russo slotted in from a well-worked free-kick by substitute Chloe Kelly.
Beth Mead and Alessia Russo guide Arsenal to first win of Champions League campaign
Mikel Arteta confirms extent of Martin Odegaard injury in latest Arsenal blow
15:20 , Will CastleBad news to kickstart the weekend for Gunners fans.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Martin Odegaard will be out of action for “weeks” in what is the latest injury blow for Arsenal’s captain.
Odegaard has been withdrawn before half-time in three consecutive Premier League starts and now faces a prolonged spell on the sidelines with a knee problem.
“It will be weeks,” Arteta said ahead of Saturday’s clash with Fulham. “No definite date for his return, but he's evolving well. Very unlucky, what's happening with him and his injuries this season, but yeah, I think he will be back in a few weeks.”
Speaking on when the Norwegian could be fit to return, Arteta added: “It could be (after the next international break), but we’ll have to see how he progresses, how the knee’s healing, how he manages after the next steps in his rehab, so too early to give an answer.”
Mikel Arteta confirms extent of Martin Odegaard injury in latest Arsenal blow
Odds for the clash
15:05 , Will CastleFulham 6/1
Draw 7/2
Arsenal 11/2
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Predicted line-ups
15:04 , Will CastleFulham XI: Leno; Diop, Bassey, Andersen; Castagne, Berge, Cairney, Sessegnon; Wilson, King, Iwobi.
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Arsenal team news
15:03 , Will CastleArsenal will be without their captain in Martin Odegaard, who after being substituted in the first half of three consecutive starts faces “weeks” on the sidelines.
Ben White and Martin Zubimendi missed training on Thursday but Arteta put this down to load management, while Piero Hincapie could also be back in contention.
Fulham team news
15:00 , Will CastleFulham have been dealt a couple of major injury blows on the last couple of weeks.
Sasa Lukic endured a groin injury 14 minutes into the clash with Bournemouth two weeks ago, and it’s been claimed that he’ll be out for four to six weeks.
Meanwhile, Samuel Chukwueze was withdrawn at half-time of Nigeria’s 4-0 win over Benin with a reported injury, meaning he will likely join Antonee Robinson and Rodrigo Muniz on the sidelines.
Raul Jimenez and Kenny Tete are both doubts.
Is Fulham vs Arsenal on TV?
14:40 , Will CastleFulham’s clash with Arsenal in the Premier League kicks off at 5:30pm BST on Saturday 18 October at Craven Cottage in London.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the UK can watch the match on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting at 5pm BST. Subscribers can also stream the match online via NOWTV.
If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
Fulham vs Arsenal LIVE
14:30 , Will CastleGood afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Arsenal’s trip to Fulham in the Premier League.
The Gunners head to Craven Cottage top of the pile and could extend their lead over Liverpool to four points, putting extra pressure on Arne Slot’s side ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Manchester United.
It will be Fulham’s job to thwart Arsenal, although their optimism may be stunted by an underwhelming start to the season, which sees them sit in 14th on just eight points.
Stay tuned for all the build-up, team news and minute-by-minute updates from the clash.
