latest
Arsenal Reclaims Premier League Lead with 1-0 Win Over Fulham
Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League table on Saturday after defeating Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage, thanks to a second-half strike from Leandro Trossard.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Belgian forward scored in the 58th minute, converting from close range after a well-placed corner. His goal sealed Arsenal’s fifth straight league victory and maintained the team’s strong defensive form, marking back-to-back clean sheets without conceding a single shot on target.
The win lifted the Gunners above Manchester City and Liverpool, reaffirming their credentials as serious title contenders early in the season.
Arsenal dominates possession
From the opening whistle, Arsenal controlled possession and dictated the tempo of the game. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli stretched Fulham’s defense wide, while captain Martin Ødegaard orchestrated play through the middle.
Despite their dominance, Arsenal struggled to break down Fulham’s compact back line during the first half. The best early chance came when Saka went down inside the box after minimal contact, leading referee Michael Oliver to initially award a penalty. However, after a VAR review, the decision was overturned, sparking frustration from Arsenal players and fans.
Goalkeeper Bernd Leno, a former Arsenal player, kept Fulham in the game with several sharp saves before halftime. His reflex stop against Trossard in the 35th minute denied Arsenal an opener.
Trossard breaks the deadlock
The breakthrough finally arrived after the break. In the 58th minute, Ødegaard’s inswinging corner found Trossard unmarked at the near post, and he guided the ball past Leno with a precise finish. The goal capped off a dominant spell for Arsenal and sent the visiting supporters into celebration.
Fulham pushed forward in the closing stages, but their attack lacked cutting edge. Arsenal’s defense, anchored by William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori, remained composed throughout. Calafiori, a summer signing from Bologna, impressed again with his calm passing and positioning.
Clean sheets and confidence
Saturday’s result means Arsenal have now gone more than 180 minutes without conceding a shot on target in the league. Goalkeeper David Raya enjoyed another quiet afternoon behind a disciplined back four.
Manager Mikel Arteta praised his players for maintaining focus under pressure.
“We knew coming here would be tough, but the team stayed patient and showed maturity,” Arteta said. “We are growing stronger each week.”
Trossard, whose goal proved decisive, emphasized the importance of consistency.
“We’re building momentum,” he said. “Everyone’s working hard, and we want to stay on top.”
Fulham left frustrated
Fulham, meanwhile, remain midtable after the defeat. Manager Marco Silva admitted his side struggled to match Arsenal’s intensity but pointed to the overturned penalty as a key moment.
“It was a difficult match against a top team,” Silva said. “The VAR decision changed the game’s flow, but we have to be more clinical when we have our chances.”
Title race heating up
The victory places Arsenal at the summit of the Premier League table with 23 points, narrowly ahead of Manchester City. With their next fixture against Tottenham Hotspur, Arteta’s men will aim to extend their winning streak and maintain pressure on their rivals.
Fulham will look to bounce back when they face Crystal Palace next weekend.
As the season progresses, Arsenal’s mix of attacking creativity and defensive discipline continues to send a clear message: the Gunners are serious contenders in this year’s Premier League title race.
latest
Contempt Drama: Health Minister, Hospital MD Risk Jail Over Enugu Neuropsychiatric Hospital Case.
A judgment of the National Industrial Court, Abuja Division, has nullified the appointment of Dr. Ngozi Unaogu as Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Enugu and ordered the reinstatement of Prof. Monday Igwe.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Justice E.D. Subilim, in a ruling delivered on December 11, 2025, declared the earlier termination of Prof. Igwe’s appointment unlawful and void, stating that due disciplinary procedures were not followed.
The court also held that Dr. Unaogu’s appointment was invalid because it was made while the case was still before the court, in which she was a party.
Despite the judgment being served on the defendants, reports say the orders have not been complied with several months later.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Michael O. Okorie, said Dr. Unaogu has continued to carry out official duties, including contract awards, banking transactions, and staff-related decisions, despite the court’s ruling.
He warned that individuals and organisations dealing with her risk doing so at their own peril, as no stay of execution has been granted.
The lawyer has also filed Form 48 against the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare and Dr. Unaogu, signalling consequences for alleged disobedience of court orders.
He further urged the minister to review his legal advisers to avoid actions that could put him in breach of the law.
Court documents show the contempt proceedings were filed under relevant enforcement laws, warning that failure to comply with the judgment could lead to imprisonment.
The notice stated that Prof. Igwe remains unlawfully excluded from office, while Dr. Unaogu continues to function as Medical Director in defiance of the court order.
Meanwhile, reports recall that Dr. Unaogu has previously faced contempt proceedings and was once committed to prison by a High Court over disobedience of a court order.
She now risks another potential contempt sanction if the current court directives are not obeyed.
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has launched an investigation into the reported data breach at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The probe, conducted under Section 46(3) of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, is aimed at strengthening public trust in Nigeria’s digital and economic systems, the agency said.
According to the NDPC, cyber threat actors are increasingly using sophisticated methods to compromise the security of major databases, including large-scale data theft and cross-platform system breaches.
As part of regulatory support efforts, a statement signed by Babatunde Bamgboye, Esq., Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations, said the National Commissioner, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, has ordered the commission’s technical team to engage relevant authorities and key organisations to reinforce data protection safeguards.
The investigation will focus on access control systems, Data Privacy Impact Assessments, Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT), as well as checks on third-party data processors.
The NDPC assured the public that Nigeria’s data protection frameworks remain strong, noting the growing reliance on data-driven services across the country.
French coach Hervé Renard has confirmed that he has been relieved of his duties as head coach of Saudi Arabia, just under two months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking on his departure, the 57-year-old tactician expressed mixed feelings but took pride in his achievements with the national team.
“That’s football… Saudi Arabia have qualified for the World Cup seven times, including twice with me,” he told AFP.
Renard added, “And there’s only one coach who has taken them through both the qualifiers and the World Cup; that’s me, in 2022. At least there will be that sense of pride.”
He returned for a second spell as Saudi Arabia coach at the end of 2024, having previously managed the side between 2019 and 2023.
During his first stint, he guided Saudi Arabia to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they famously defeated eventual champions Argentina in the group stage.
Renard is highly regarded for his international coaching record, having won the Africa Cup of Nations twice—first with Zambia and later with Ivory Coast.
He also previously managed the French women’s national team, leading them to the quarter-finals of both the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games.
His return to the Saudi job followed the exit of Roberto Mancini, who left after a disappointing 14-month spell.
However, Renard’s second tenure has now ended abruptly ahead of the global tournament.
Reports suggest that former Greece international Georgios Donis is being considered as his possible replacement.
A source close to the discussions told AFP that talks are ongoing between the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and Saudi club Al Khaleej, where Donis has been in charge since 2024.
Saudi Arabia are set to compete in Group H at the 2026 World Cup alongside Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde.
The team will now head into the tournament under new leadership as preparations continue for the global competition.
-
latest8 months ago“Social Media Erupts As Jim Iyke Declares Rita Dominic Nollywood’s Most Beautiful”
-
latest2 years agoEdo Political Showdown: Oshiomhole Appears At Presidential Villa As Tinubu Hands APC Gubernatorial Flag To Okpebholo (Photos & Video)
-
entertainment2 years agoLove Knows No Age American Woman Defends Marriage To Young Nigerian Man “I’m Not 70”
-
latest2 years agoOlumide Akpata Strikes Again: Drops Killer Track, Sends Edo State Into Frenzy!(Video)
-
Politics2 years agoNigerians React As Pastor Adeboye Foresees Passing Away On A Sunday After Enjoying A Satisfying Meal Of Pounded Yam
-
latest2 years agoFG Identifies 31 States At Risk Of Heavy Flooding In 2024: See Full List
-
latest2 years ago5 NYSC Corpers Perish In Fatal Road Accident Returning From Camp
-
Politics2 years agoBREAKING: Inspector-General Of Police Summons Top Police Commanders For Crucial-Security Challenges