Fulham 0-3 Arsenal
While Arsenal's visit to Craven Cottage fell on a mild Sunday afternoon – it proved rather uncomfortable for Fulham supporters.
Though Marco Silva knew that neither Joao Palhinha nor Cedric Soares would be eligible for the match, it was a sign of fortune turning against Fulham that Willian was, late in the day, prevented by injury from facing his old club.
I recently mentioned the knot of Hammersmith Enders who wish to stand throughout the game regardless of the inconvenience to others. They tried again on Sunday but were persuaded to take their seats. As the game progressed, they had little incentive to rise to their feet.
After a quarter of an hour's casual dominance, the visitors had the ball in the net. Gabriel Martinelli ghosted past Kenny Tete and fired a low shot that Bernd Leno deflected onto Antonee Robinson. This own goal was, after an inexplicable delay, ruled out by VAR because Martinelli had been very marginally offside.
The visiting Gooners expressed a Luddite distaste for this use of technology. They need not have worried because their opponents seemed impervious to the warning.
Six minutes later, an unusually sloppy Tim Ream pass resulted in an Arsenal corner, taken by Leandro Trossard. Though surrounded by a ring of Fulham players Gabriel Magalhaes calmly nodded home. This was followed all too soon by an Arsenal breakaway that led to Trossard creating another headed goal, for Martinelli this time.
No response
The home team offered little in response. Though allowed plenty of possession they all seemed unwilling to take the ball forward. Endlessly passing from side to side felt like a throw-back to the past. While two careless errors by visiting keeper Aaron Ramsdale went unpunished.
Just before halftime, Tete's weak throw facilitated another Arsenal attack, which was finished off stylishly by Martin Odegaard. I gather that quite a few spectators headed for the exit at the interval. Marco Silva must have been tempted to join them. He remarked: "We were not on the pitch in the first half. Just the shirts."
Silva could have instituted a packed defence for the remainder of the match or demanded a full-blooded attack which could have ended 3-3 or 0-7. The upshot was a compromise.
Arsenal did not over-exert themselves and Fulham had a brief purple period where Bobby DeCordova-Reid tested Ramsden and Tosin and Aleksandar Mitrovic went for the same header which hit the woodwork.
Silva's 76th-minute decision to replace Andreas Pereira and Manor Solomon with Dan James and Harry Wilson suggested to me that he was more concerned with next week's FA Cup tie than with any face-saving goal though Harry did get a half-chance.
Thankfully, the BBC's inner drama prevented any damning analysis of Fulham's performance on Match of the Day 2.
But individually and collectively the players could have done much better and next Sunday gives them a glorious chance to make amends. Come on, you Whites.
On a personal note: I must have dropped my Tate season ticket as I entered the ground. Many thanks to whoever found it and to the canny official who located me. I got my property back before I knew that it was missing!
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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