EPL: Haaland and Arsenal mark rare feats as Brighton makes nationality history
By Luke Oluoch, September 16, 2026The recently concluded matchweek 4 of the English Premier League witnessed a campaign of legendary proportions, defined by milestones, milestone goals, and dominant starts across the competition.
Arsenal captured their ninth consecutive league victory, mirroring a golden sequence last achieved during their historic, unbeaten Invincibles run in the 2003/04 season.
Mikel Arteta’s side has shown a ruthless streak, stringing together victories that signal they are ready to sustain a true championship-winning pace. Their hard-earned victory away to Sundrlands was their ninth league match-winning streak that stretches back to last season’s winning campaign.
Before this run, their longest winning streak in that legendary campaign came between January 10, 2004, and March 20, 2004.
In the new campaign, where they remain unbeaten, Arteta’s side has yet to taste defeat in the league since losing to Manchester City 2-1 in April, with their latest win coming against Ipswich in the Carabao Cup.
History for Haaland at the Theatre of Dreams
Meanwhile, across Manchester, the noise from the ‘noisy neighbours’ grew deafening as Manchester City travelled to Old Trafford for the 199th Manchester Derby and carved out a piece of Premier League history.
Despite playing a portion of the match with 10 men following a first-half red card to Phil Foden, City secured a tense 1-0 victory.
The decisive moment arrived on the hour mark when Erling Haaland bundled home his ninth goal in this fixture. Albeit controversially, the Norwegian machine surpassed the records held by Sergio Agüero and Wayne Rooney with his ninth goal in the derby, continuing his staggeringly prolific scoring feats.
That single strike also secured a landmark statistic, with Manchester City becoming the first visiting team in Premier League history to register 10 wins at Old Trafford. Liverpool sits closest behind them with 8 victories at the famous ground, while Arsenal and Chelsea trail further back, sharing 6 wins apiece at the Theatre of Dreams.
New record by Brighton
Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove Albion broke new ground as the first team to field 15 outfield players of different nationalities in a single Premier League match.
Fabian Hürzeler’s team achieved the rare feat during their 5-0 win over Coventry City, featuring 10 different nationalities among the starting outfield players and 5 additional ones introduced via substitutes.