Super Eagles’ midfielder was the hero for his English Premier League side, Fulham, as they secured their first win of the 2026/2027 league season.
The former Arsenal star secured the win with the only goal of the game coming in the 33rd minute, bringing to an end to six league matches with a win.
The Cottagers had been winless in their previous six league matches but secured all three points against Hull City thanks to Iwobi’s 33rd-minute strike.
The result offered respite for head coach Arbeloa, who succeeded Marco Silva in the Craven Cottage hot seat in July but had not seen his side’s promising displays translate into wins.
The result lifted Fulham’s points tally to five and moved them off the foot of the table and out of the relegation zone, while Hull sit ninth.
Fulham took the lead just after the half-hour mark in the 100th meeting between the sides in all competitions.
Hull twice failed to clear their lines, allowing Sander Berge to slide the ball into the path of Iwobi on the edge of the box.
Iwobi curled a low shot that took a deflection off Lucas Herrington and squirmed under Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis, who perhaps should have done better.
Hull struggled to create much of note, with Mohamed Belloumi dragging a shot wide of the post in the second half with arguably their best effort.
The only negative for Fulham was the dismissal of Ryan Sessegnon in added time after his studs caught the back of Robinio Vaz’s calf from behind.
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EPL: Halland scores twice in Ipswich win as Liverpool beat 10-man Brentford
Manchester City beat Ipswich Town to make it seven straight wins at the start of a Premier League season for the first time in the club’s history.
Erling Haaland scored twice after Phil Foden’s opener was cancelled out by Daizen Maeda to send Enzo Maresca’s side six points clear at the top of the table.
This was City’s first home game in the competition since being found guilty of breaking its financial rules.
After celebrating victory over Liverpool at a hostile Anfield in their first match since the verdict against the club was announced, the home fans showed their support for the club as they booed the Premier League anthem prior to kick-off and waved inflatable bananas in a recently revived tradition from the 1980s.
Haaland’s double ensured City joined Chelsea (2005-06) and Liverpool (2019-20) as only the third club in Premier League history to win their first seven games of a season.
Liverpool meanwhile staged a second-half fightback to come from behind and beat nine-man Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Previously unbeaten Brentford paid a heavy price for the red card given to Yehor Yarmoliuk in first-half added time for a “headbutting action” – in the words of referee John Brooks – on Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet.
Keith Andrews’ side were a goal up through Keane Lewis-Potter’s superb 44th-minute header, and in control, when Yarmoliuk was dismissed – but Liverpool made the most of their numerical advantage to launch a comeback after the break.
Spain winger Victor Munoz scored a fine equaliser after 62 minutes, cutting inside to beat Brentford keeper Caoimhin Kelleher with a left-foot finish after he was released by Florian Wirtz’s pass.
Alexander Isak added the second eight minutes later with a clinical strike for his fifth goal of the season, after Bradley Barcola headed down Alexis Mac Allister’s cross.
Brentford’s day of frustration was complete when they were reduced to nine men in stoppage time – Vitaly Janelt shown a second yellow card for a foul on Liverpool substitute Rio Ngumoha.
Also, Aston Villa continued their recent revival and stretched their unbeaten run to five games thanks to Johan Manzambi’s winning goal to defeat Newcastle United.
Switzerland midfielder Manzambi came close to joining the Magpies in the summer before moving to Villa Park instead, and showed Newcastle what they were missing when he headed in Joao Gomes’ cross in the 36th minute.
Emiliano Buendia nearly doubled Villa’s advantage but saw his strike bounce off the left post, with Lukas Hornicek well beaten.
This victory takes Villa 12th, only behind 11th-placed Newcastle on goals scored.
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Injured Martinez taken to hospital as Chelsea beat Everton
Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez left the pitch on a stretcher with a serious-looking head injury as Xabi Alonso’s side won at Everton.
Argentina World Cup winner Martinez and Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite clashed heads as they went for the ball in the 75th minute.
Branthwaite was able to continue after treatment, but the game was held up for 10 minutes as Martinez received medical care.
The 34-year-old, who was able to move his arms as he was carried off, was replaced by Mike Penders.
The game was settled by two goals from wing-back Pedro Neto, who scored at both ends of the second half.
He netted his first from Jorrel Hato’s deflected cutback, then added a late second with a cool rolled finish into the bottom corner after Jordan Henderson’s free-kick hit the wall.
The result gave Chelsea a first Premier League clean sheet in nine months and was Everton’s first league defeat this season.
Chelsea go fourth, with Everton sitting sixth, before the rest of the weekend’s games.
