Arsenal 2 -1 Fulham: Post Match thread Merged

[Fulham 442]

I think all the starting defenders did really well, and I would certainly include Tosin. He did make a few blunders, but otherwise he was really good. He is so good at winning 1 on 1 duels, and nullifies lots of attacks because of that. I don't think he is anywhere near getting dropped. 

Agree completely with this. As far as I'm concerned, Tosin has been getting a lot of undeserved stick so far this season. He's got a lot of responsibilities playing alongside someone with Ream's limitations. 

He did make a few blunders but otherwise was really good?? I thought he was a liability, especially in the first half...

[Sting of the North]

Making blunders and being otherwise really good is not mutually exclusive... he had in my opinion a very good game and was a huge part of us nearly getting a point. I believe many tend to get hung up on a few moments and missing the big picture. But that is just a feeling I have.

[ChesterTheTabby]

It's all subjective. Saliba was jumping to get to the ball, his arm is pressed against Leno, can't really move it midair away from Leno in his positioning... deemed "natural position" while jumping I imagine. Or it's a robbery. I'm conflicted... but in the heat of the moment, see why it was given... I suppose 🤬

[Hatch007]

Foul on Leno from the corner all day long, how can VAR not see that.

Never a foul.

If we'd had a goal disallowed for that I'd go nuts

[Denver Fulham]

I mean considering how much arsenal have dominated and put teams to the sword I thought everyone did phenomenally today in Fulham colours. They all put in a real shift. Tete's one on one defending was great. Tosin did have some shaky moments in the first half but given arsenal's attacking ability and play I think that's understandable. He also made a few good last ditch tackles.

Shame not to get a point and it'll be interesting to see what Marco was so upset about but I thought the team did themselves proud today.

We desperately need more depth up front though. How we haven't yet is very puzzling.

Also noticed Bryan wasn't on the bench today. Nod to him. Hopefully we're not going to let him go unless we have a player in to replace him.

Mitro gets injured and we're buggered.

Did feel Tete coming off lost us an edge. Mbabu didn't do a lot wrong but arsenal were getting a lot more luck down than side when he came on.

He was a traffic cone. We'd have been better off playing with 10.

[Denver Fulham]

And I think Harrison Reed's skill set is the LOOOOOOOOOOOOOW bar for what should be expected from him.   He's not going to win any balls in the air, he's not going to finish and he's not going to open up the middle of the pitch.

Think he's a good squad player...but that's it.  imo

He was garbage unfortunately, and I've been a fan of him. Even without the ball he was invisible, an archetypal chasing shadows type performance continually letting players run off him and/or overcommitting and failing to make the tackle.

I like Harrison overall and Arsenal spread our midfield out badly today. Credit to them. That said, it's patently obvious we need another quality central midfielder in. Our three current guys are going to keel over.

[DannyM]

Very honest post match interview by Silva. Team is ready but the squad isn't

[Jamie88]

It wasn't a handball first of all in my opinion, despite it touching Saliba's arm.

Secondly, VAR rules are now that a goal is to be disallowed only if the ball had touched the goalscorers hand/arm, regardless of it deliberate or not, and not that of any player in the buildup.

Frustratingly this rule was brought in immediately after one of our goals was disallowed, against Spurs I think it was.

[SP]

Personally, I don't think this performance should result in any finger pointing.

[The Old Count]

I find the slagging off of individual players offensive and unnecessary.  Every player left everything on the pitch. It was a great performance against a very very good side. On another day we would have got a point or even three.

[FFC1987]

Personally, I don't think this performance should result in any finger pointing.

At players, no. I agree. At our lack of depth, I think Silva requires some answers.

[rebel]

We had quite a few clear cut opportunities in the match..

[Finnans Right Peg]

It wasn't hand ball and if we scored it and it was disallowed we would be going mad .

Should have been cleared by leno

[McBrideOfFrankenstein]

I mean considering how much arsenal have dominated and put teams to the sword I thought everyone did phenomenally today in Fulham colours. They all put in a real shift. Tete's one on one defending was great. Tosin did have some shaky moments in the first half but given arsenal's attacking ability and play I think that's understandable. He also made a few good last ditch tackles.

Shame not to get a point and it'll be interesting to see what Marco was so upset about but I thought the team did themselves proud today.

We desperately need more depth up front though. How we haven't yet is very puzzling.

Also noticed Bryan wasn't on the bench today. Nod to him. Hopefully we're not going to let him go unless we have a player in to replace him.

Mitro gets injured and we're buggered.

Did feel Tete coming off lost us an edge. Mbabu didn't do a lot wrong but arsenal were getting a lot more luck down than side when he came on.

He was a traffic cone. We'd have been better off playing with 10.

Agree, Mbabu was a sieve. He was invisible and they were just blowing by him down the left where Tete had been stalwart minutes before. Won't judge him for this performance alone though, hard to be thrown in during a siege.

My main takeaway is that the starting back four were again excellent. Against all odds, I do not see the starters changing any time soon.

[Black and White Town]

Well, the result was quite cruel and disappointing; we certainly did enough to deserve a point. But the overall performance, spirit and attitude were very encouraging.

Keep playing like that, and we'll be nowhere near the relegation zone.

[General]

It wasn't hand ball and if we scored it and it was disallowed we would be going mad .

Should have been cleared by leno

I'm not sure it could've been cleared by Leno. He probably would've dealt with it easier if he had stayed on the line instead though.

[ffcthereligion]

Proud of the boys. What an effort

[alfie]

I find the slagging off of individual players offensive and unnecessary.  Every player left everything on the pitch. It was a great performance against a very very good side. On another day we would have got a point or even three.

Agree, new players coming on still getting to grips with Silva's style, we do love to slag off our players.
If people noticed Tete was booked so I don't think Silva wanted a second yellow.

[Mince n Tatties]

I think all the starting defenders did really well, and I would certainly include Tosin. He did make a few blunders, but otherwise he was really good. He is so good at winning 1 on 1 duels, and nullifies lots of attacks because of that. I don't think he is anywhere near getting dropped. 

Agree completely with this. As far as I'm concerned, Tosin has been getting a lot of undeserved stick so far this season. He's got a lot of responsibilities playing alongside someone with Ream's limitations. 

Ream's limitations..😅

[RaySmith]

Making blunders and being otherwise really good is not mutually exclusive... he had in my opinion a very good game and was a huge part of us nearly getting a point. I believe many tend to get hung up on a few moments and missing the big picture. But that is just a feeling I have.

Agree.
Thought he was nervous at first as he can be, but overcome this, and generally had a good game, as part of a defense that kept their  high scoring attack at bay for the most of the game, and onlygetting a winner with a  scuffed, controversial goal.