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Chelsea Held By Fulham; Arsenal Visits Everton As Spurs Dare Man City

1 min read

Derby honours were shared as Chelsea was held to an entertaining goalless draw by Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Fernandez made his Chelsea debut following his club-record arrival on Deadline Day and was impressive, while Mykhailo Mudryk started for the first time but made way first minute into the second half.

Both sides had chances in the opening 45 minutes, with Kepa Arrizabalaga making a fingertip save to deny Fulham’s Andreas Pereira.

At the other end, Kai Havertz almost put Chelsea ahead just before the break, but his lofted effort clipped the woodwork.

New signing and young England Under-21 international, Noni Madueke, who could well play for Nigeria at the senior level- where he has his heritage – replaced Mudryk and in so doing became the 31st player used by Graham Potter’s side in the Premier League this season, their most in a campaign since 1996/97.

Aleksandar Mitrovic came close with an audacious lob from the halfway line, while Chelsea pushed hard for a late breakthrough.

Fernandez almost marked his first appearance with a goal as his 30-yard strike swerved inches wide, while substitute David Fofana was denied a debut goal by Tim Ream’s goalline clearance.

The draw moves both Chelsea up one place to ninth on 30 points, two behind Fulham, who claimed their first point at Stamford Bridge since 2012, in the sixth spot.

The first of seven Saturday fixtures begin with Everton, led by new manager Sean Dyche, taking on leaders Arsenal.

 

READ ALSO: EPL Roundup: Liverpool Pile Pressure On Man City With West Ham Defeat, Chelsea Thrash Burnley

An away win would take Arsenal eight points clear of reigning champions Manchester City, who face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The top-four battle continues with both Newcastle United and Manchester United looking to stay within touching distance of the top.

Third-placed Newcastle host a West Ham United side hovering one point above the drop zone, while Man Utd, in fourth, face Crystal Palace at Old Trafford without Wilfried Zaha for this crucial game.

There are Midlands derby honours at stake when Aston Villa welcome Leicester City, while victory for Brighton & Hove Albion against AFC Bournemouth would move the Seagulls to within two points of Spurs in fifth.

Elsewhere, bottom club Southampton faces a tough trip to Brentford, who are unbeaten in eight Premier League matches, and Liverpool travels to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.

In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.

He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.

Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.

He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.

Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.

Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.

Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.

In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.

He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.

Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.

He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.

Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.

Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.