PREMIER LEAGUE
What is the fastest goal in Premier League history?
Philip Billing found the net in 9.11 seconds for Bournemouth against Arsenal. Is that the fastest ever Premier League goal?
Who saw that one coming?! Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale certainly didn’t, as Philip Billing’s calmly slotted the ball into the net to give struggling Bournemouth a shock lead at the Emirates…after just NINE seconds (9.11 seconds to be precise). Had the Gunners’ number one even tightened his gloves properly? Let’s assume so.
A disastrous start for the Gunners (something of an understatement) as they continue their push for a first Premier League title since 2003-04, especially given the fact that Manchester City had wrapped up a comfortable 2-0 victory against Newcastle United a matter of minutes earlier.
But we’re not here to talk about Premier League titles, we’re here to talk about goals. Fast ones. What can you do in 9.11 seconds (no sniggering at the back there…)? Billing can score a Premier League goal, which takes some beating. And it’s a goal that is indeed almost unbeatable in Premier League history…but not quite!
Where does Billing sit on the list of fastest ever Premier League goals?
The Dane’s strike in North London has moved him into second place in the table for fastest goals scored in the Premier League, just ahead of Tottenham Hotspurs’ Ledley King, who latched onto a loose ball in midfield and bobbled in a long-range strike 9.82 seconds into Spurs’ clash away to Bradford City on 9 December 2000.
Who scored the fastest goal in Premier League history and how fast was it?
The two nine-second wonders, however, found the net at snail’s pace by comparison to the man who holds the record. Irish striker Shane Long is that man, having incredibly scored just 7.69 seconds into Southampton’s game away to Watford on 23 April 2019. “How could anyone possible score a goal in 7.69 seconds?” I hear you ask. Even more remarkable is that Watford kicked off, working the ball back to defender Craig Cathcart, whose attempted clearance up-field was charged down by Long, who beautifully clipped the ball past Ben Foster.
According to statistics website The Analyst, the 10 fastest goals in Premier League history are:
Fastest Premier League goals
- Shane Long, Southampton (7.69 seconds), Watford v Southampton, 23 April 2019
- Phillip Billing, Bournemouth (9.11 seconds), Arsenal v Bournemouth, 4 March 2023
- Ledley King, Tottenham Hotspur (9.82 seconds), Bradford City v Tottenham Hotspur, 9 December 2000
- Alan Shearer, Newcastle United (10.52 seconds), Newcastle United v Manchester City, 18 January 2003
- Christian Eriksen, Tottenham Hotspur (10.54 seconds), Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United, 31 January 2018
- Mark Viduka, Leeds United (11.90 seconds), Charlton Athletic v Leeds United, March 17 2001
- Dwight Yorke, Aston Villa (12.16 seconds), Coventry City v Aston Villa, 30 September 1995
- Chris Sutton, Blackburn Rovers (12.94 seconds), Everton v Blackburn Rovers, 1 April 1995
- Kevin Nolan, Bolton Wanderers (13.48 seconds), Blackburn Rovers v Bolton Wanderers, 10 January 2004
- James Beattie, Southampton (13.52 seconds), Chelsea v Southampton, 28 August 2004