Erling Haaland scored his 100th Premier League goal in a thrilling match as Manchester City edged out Fulham 5-4 at Craven Cottage on October 28, 2023. The victory was vital for City, who reduced their points deficit to league leaders Arsenal to just two points.
Haaland opened the scoring, setting the tone for a high-scoring encounter. Following his goal, Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden extended City’s lead, but Fulham’s Emile Smith Rowe responded just before halftime, keeping the contest competitive. City quickly struck twice within the first ten minutes of the second half, appearing to secure their dominance.
Despite Samuel Chukwueze’s two goals and a strike from Alex Iwobi bringing Fulham back into the game, Manchester City ultimately held on for the win. The match showcased the resilience of Pep Guardiola’s side, who are now focused on maintaining momentum as they aim to regain the top spot in the Premier League.
Haaland emphasized the need for his teammates to concentrate on their own performances rather than their rivals. “It’s important, Arsenal came here and won here,” he remarked after the match. “Fulham are a great team but we shouldn’t think too much about Arsenal. We should focus on ourselves; today wasn’t good enough and we know this.”
The Norwegian striker expressed pride in reaching the milestone of 100 Premier League goals, saying, “It’s huge and I’m really proud. Of course, it’s a massive thing; the 100 club is a nice thing to be in and I’m happy.” He acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead, stating, “Every game is a different game; you can’t think of the game that’s been. You need to focus on what’s ahead.”
City’s victory comes after a tough stretch that included losses to Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen. Looking ahead, Haaland noted, “We have two wins in a row, and we have to keep going. It’s a tough schedule with many games in the next month. Game by game and recover for the next one.”
Manchester City will play Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium on November 4, while Arsenal will face Aston Villa in the early kick-off on the same day. As the Premier League title race intensifies, both teams will be eager to secure crucial points in their upcoming fixtures.
