Fulham outplayed and outfought in worst efficiency of the season in Arsenal thrashing

They are often outscored and typically outplayed, however they’re hardly ever outfought. They comfortably had been at Craven Cottage right here.

Marco Silva’s staff got here throughout League leaders who’ve the beast of Manchester Metropolis respiratory down their necks. Arsenal know they can’t slip up, and Fulham kindly allowed them to run free and rating freely.

The Cottagers final beat Arsenal in 2012, and since then the Gunners had received seven of 9 conferences coming into this conflict. It’s a fixture which has traditionally been very one-sided, and these 90 minutes performed out in a lot the identical style.

It ought to concern Marco Silva — and it’ll concern Fulham followers — simply how simply Arsenal’s fluid entrance three of Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli discovered it to select them aside and discover themselves staring former teammate Bernd Leno within the face.

Arsenal are high of the league, that’s true, however such feeble defending would price Fulham in opposition to most sides within the division. This was a match they misplaced, as a lot as one which Mikel Arteta’s scintillating Arsenal received.

Antonee Robinson specifically endured a torrid afternoon. He bundled into his personal internet after 16 minutes, however VAR spared his blushes once they adjudged assister Gabriel Martinelli to have been simply offside.

The choice handed Fulham and Robinson a lifeline, although it was one they had been unable to make use of to their benefit. Quickly the benefit was Arsenal’s when Gabriel beat 4 uncommunicative Fulham gamers within the air to move within the opener.

Quickly it was two, then three, and solely when half-time arrived did Fulham’s unforced errors abate and Arsenal’s rampancy relent.

Fulham had been higher within the second half, however that was enchancment from a really low base. They go to Manchester United of their first FA Cup quarter-final since 2010 subsequent weekend. They merely can not put in a efficiency much like this one. In the event that they do, they’ll be out.