Arsenal returned to the summit of the Premier League standings following a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Fulham at Craven Cottage. The decisive moment arrived just shy of the hour mark when Leandro Trossard capitalized on a set piece, kneeing the ball into the net from close range. The goal originated from a Bukayo Saka corner, which was flicked on at the near post by Gabriel, allowing Trossard to score as he arrived at the far post.

The Gunners initially faced considerable pressure from the hosts, who sought to establish their dominance in the early stages of the match. Fulham's Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez displayed particular attacking intent, with Wilson making several attempts that drifted wide, and Jimenez effectively linking play upon his return to the side. Fulham even had a goal disallowed in the 16th minute when Riccardo Calafiori believed he had scored a stunning strike, but the effort was ruled out for offside. Arsenal gradually settled into their rhythm, with Viktor Gyokeres forcing a save from former Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno, marking the only shot on target in the first half. In the second period, Bukayo Saka also tested Leno with a powerful drive, which the German goalkeeper commendably denied.

This victory allowed Mikel Arteta’s side to reclaim their position at the top of the Premier League table, having been briefly dislodged by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who secured a 2-0 win over Everton earlier the same day. The three points on the road underscored Arsenal's strong campaign.

Coinciding with the competitive fixture, Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi etched his name into Premier League history. The Super Eagles star, who played the full 90 minutes for the Cottagers, made his 299th Premier League appearance. This significant milestone makes him the Nigerian with the most appearances in the competition, surpassing the previous record holder, Shola Ameobi, who had 298 appearances.

Iwobi has enjoyed a consistent career, becoming a regular under Marco Silva since joining Fulham from Everton in January 2023. His journey in the Premier League began in the 2015/16 season, having been promoted from the Arsenal academy to the senior team. Despite Fulham's 1-0 loss to his former club, Iwobi's personal achievement marked a notable highlight.

The 29-year-old now stands atop an illustrious list of Nigerian players in the Premier League. Following Iwobi (299 appearances) and Shola Ameobi (298 appearances) are former Arsenal forward Kanu Nwankwo with 273 appearances, Yakubu Aiyegbeni with 252 appearances (who also holds the record as the highest-scoring Nigerian in the Premier League), and Chelsea legend Mikel Obi with 249 appearances. Given Iwobi's age and continued presence in the league, his newly set record is expected to be a difficult one for any other Nigerian player to match in the foreseeable future.