Arsenal 2 -1 Fulham: Post Match thread Merged

[Baszab]

As the Arsenal fan quite rightly points out/ FFC will only get weaker as the season progresses with their current squad - it's inevitable with injuries, suspension and fatigue

MS and most of the football world can see this clearly

I still can't fathom anyone who can support the FFC management's work on squad build up this year

Paulina Perreira Leno Solomon are great - but let's assemble a competitive squad for a 38 game season

[blingo]

We won't necessarily get weaker. It depends on who we bring in now and remember we have Wilson and Solomon to come back, plus we will have another window in January.

As long as we give MS the tools to work with, we will be fine.

[Lighthouse]

It is becoming increasingly frustrating that our lack of options off the bench is causing us points or will do in the future.

But trying to look at the bright side. We haven't met anybody who have been able to cruise against us. Arsenal had to play really well and had a spot of luck. This idea that we made mistakes at the back that cost us. It is always going to be that way. Defenders get blamed, keepers get blamed. But Arsenal had the deflection and a winning goal that would have stood if I was on VAR as well. But had it been the other way I think that VAR would have ruled it out.

We live in a World where top six teams will always get the nod.

But without this constant need to point fingers and find blame. A stronger squad was needed, is needed and will be needed.

[copthornemike]

My humble reading of the game:
Arsenal were the better team so deserved the 3 points, but Silva's tactics and the team's doggedness could have got a point.
Both goals we conceded were preventable. Odegaard (best player on the pitch) given far too much space for the first (although the deflection was fortunate) & Leno at fault for the second (excellent otherwise and it was right decision to try and claim the ball as he did successfully throughout the match).
Quite a few players were excellent despite being under the team being under the cosh for most of the game.
Tim Ream take a bow - thought he was magnificent throughout the match. Strange how in comparison he struggled at times in the Championship, looks a top class centre back at the moment.
Mitro - how can anyone now doubt he is a top level striker. Gladiatorial & magnificent.
Antonee Robinson - another player to take a bow, coped effectively defensively despite being under pressure by Arsenal's wide players throughout the match. Also carried the ball upfield to provide some relief for our hard pressed defence. Only criticism is he has an annoying tendency to nick the ball of an attacker then appear to switch off and turnover possession leaving the defence exposed. Something to sort out in training.
Leno - thought he was excellent despite his error for the final goal. Caught the ball, excellent on crosses and obviously communicating with his defence throughout the game.
Our midfield trio excellent once again defensively, although I missed the press we have employed in our home games (but understandable away versus Arsenal).
Palhinha - disrupted or held up Arsenal moves throughout the game, but yet another yellow card!
Pereira - the number of times he carried the ball and did not lose possession despite being surrounded by opposition. Our most threatening player after Mitro and has improved our set piece delivery enormously this season
Some obvious areas to improve:
We really struggled to retain possession - then again so will many other teams at the Emirates this season
Toyo - room for improvement, gets caught or hurried in possession too often for my heart pressure! Something to be sorted out on the training pitch.
Pace - other than Robinson we could do with a player with the pace to run past the opposition and leave them for dead.

[Twig]

We won't necessarily get weaker. It depends on who we bring in now and remember we have Wilson and Solomon to come back, plus we will have another window in January.

As long as we give MS the tools to work with, we will be fine.

As things currently stand we would inevitable get weaker, our squad is thin in several areas. Wilson to return is a help but it sounds like we will wait several months for Soloman.

[filham]

No complaints with the Fulham performance once again all players put in their best efforts.

Arsenal however had most of the game and deserved their win.
We are missing Wilson and possibly Solomon and need a new spark in attack.

[Black and White Blood]

Sorry Marco but you blew it with the substitutions, taking off
Andreas who together with TC offered a threat and an out ball.
Including injury time there was at least 15 minutes to play, we
were holding our own but suddenly invited too much pressure.
Gutted but not too down as it was a fantastic effort against a very good Team.

[FFC1987]

Sorry Marco but you blew it with the substitutions, taking off
Andreas who together with TC offered a threat and an out ball.
Including injury time there was at least 15 minutes to play, we
were holding our own but suddenly invited too much pressure.
Gutted but not too down as it was a fantastic effort against a very good Team.

Not convinced by this. Pereria was blowing hard towards the end of his gametime. Same for Tete. If these guys worked at the same rate for 90 mins, I think we'd see complete burnout.

[copthornemike]

Sorry Marco but you blew it with the substitutions, taking off
Andreas who together with TC offered a threat and an out ball.
Including injury time there was at least 15 minutes to play, we
were holding our own but suddenly invited too much pressure.
Gutted but not too down as it was a fantastic effort against a very good Team.

Not convinced by this. Pereria was blowing hard towards the end of his gametime. Same for Tete. If these guys worked at the same rate for 90 mins, I think we'd see complete burnout.

I agree with FFC1987's perspective, we were on the backfoot for most of the game playing away to the in-form team of a world class league which we have only just been promoted to. As a fan my minimum expectation is to see our team and coaching team give 100% which they did comfortably. Silva made supportable decisions to first hold onto a point against superior opponents then react when they did go ahead.
Now onto Brighton, another on form team but we are home this time so realistic expectations of a result this time.

[Colton F.C.]

Nice video of Arsenal TV with a fan praising Mitro, and Fulham in General...
https://youtu.be/-FFWakxqfUs

Beware of Gunners bearing gifts! They're a bit too keen on Mitro

[Southcoastffc]

 

My humble reading of the game:
Arsenal were the better team so deserved the 3 points, but Silva's tactics and the team's doggedness could have got a point.
Both goals we conceded were preventable. Odegaard (best player on the pitch) given far too much space for the first (although the deflection was fortunate) & Leno at fault for the second (excellent otherwise and it was right decision to try and claim the ball as he did successfully throughout the match).
Quite a few players were excellent despite being under the team being under the cosh for most of the game.
Tim Ream take a bow - thought he was magnificent throughout the match. Strange how in comparison he struggled at times in the Championship, looks a top class centre back at the moment.
Mitro - how can anyone now doubt he is a top level striker. Gladiatorial & magnificent.
Antonee Robinson - another player to take a bow, coped effectively defensively despite being under pressure by Arsenal's wide players throughout the match. Also carried the ball upfield to provide some relief for our hard pressed defence. Only criticism is he has an annoying tendency to nick the ball of an attacker then appear to switch off and turnover possession leaving the defence exposed. Something to sort out in training.
Leno - thought he was excellent despite his error for the final goal. Caught the ball, excellent on crosses and obviously communicating with his defence throughout the game.
Our midfield trio excellent once again defensively, although I missed the press we have employed in our home games (but understandable away versus Arsenal).
Palhinha - disrupted or held up Arsenal moves throughout the game, but yet another yellow card!
Pereira - the number of times he carried the ball and did not lose possession despite being surrounded by opposition. Our most threatening player after Mitro and has improved our set piece delivery enormously this season
Some obvious areas to improve:
We really struggled to retain possession - then again so will many other teams at the Emirates this season
Toyo - room for improvement, gets caught or hurried in possession too often for my heart pressure! Something to be sorted out on the training pitch.
Pace - other than Robinson we could do with a player with the pace to run past the opposition and leave them for dead.

:plus one:  Hard to disagree with any of that.  (Except Toyo= Tosin?) 

[rusty shackleford]

I have severe doubts about Diop. I know its only a cameo appearance and would love to be proved wrong but sometimes you just have a feeling.

Speaking of being proved wrong... Robinson has been good this season so far

[Bill2]

Looking back at our goal, should Mitro have gone over after the Arsenal man pulled him back.  As it was a goal scoring opportunity he would have got a straight red and they would be down to 10 men.