Fulham boss Marco Silva spoke to the press following his sides 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday afternoon. Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring in the second-half but goals from Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel meant that Fulham lost their first Premier League game of the season.
Marco Silva said: “Tough, tough result for us. Credit for our players. I think they deserve more from this game than we took. Arsenal had more possession, more around our box, more shots for sure, more corners but I don’t see many clear chances from them, even if they are around our box more than I would like to see.”
Despite not taking any points back to Craven Cottage, Marco spoke positively on his sides display.
Marco Silva said: “Better second-half than the first-half on the ball from ourselves. We knew that the space would start to appear more in the second-half. Credit to Arsenal in the way they pressed us in the first-half. We didn’t play on the ball with the dynamic that I like to see. In our defensive organisation, we did really well from the first minute. The organisation, the togetherness, the commitment there with our plan and the players stuck with our plan until the last. Our reaction after going 1-1, then 2-1 was really good as well. We took many positives. In that moment, the way they scored that goal with the deflection was bad luck and the second goal, they don’t know how they scored the goal, that’s the reality. It didn’t come for us the result but this attitude, this commitment we showed this afternoon, it will come for us I don’t have doubts.”
It was a return to his former club for Bernd Leno on Saturday and Marco was keen to praise our new goalkeeper on his performance.
Marco Silva added: “Great, great performance. He is giving us everything what I expected from him. Quality, class, maturity, experiences, he’s giving everything, and he can give more. Great performance from him and I know more will come from him. I was really pleased the way he wanted to join us as well and he’s a top, top, top goalkeeper and he will help us a lot. This evening was a good example, last week as well and more is coming from him.”
Fulham coach Marco Silva praised the project that Mikel Arteta is evolving at Emirates Stadium. This time last year, Arsenal sat bottom of the Premier League having lost their opening three matches – the complete opposite to how this season has started.
Marco Silva said: “I think he’s one of the best examples of when you believe in the people who are in charge of your club, managing your club. When you believe in the staff it cannot be one bad run, one bad month, even if they are one of the biggest clubs in this country, or three or four bad games that can change everything. Of course, after time, everything will be put on the right track again. With time and supporting him, and of course it’s clear what they did in the market, some pieces that they brought in to give them the extra they needed, they started really well. They are confident, they are playing well, they are creating great dynamics inside the pitch as well, and of course they will be a tough team to play against.”
When asked if he thinks Arsenal can maintain this form and mount a title challenge, Silva was reluctant to make predictions about other teams.
Marco Silva added: “I don’t know what I can tell you. The Premier League is tough, the Premier League is not a race, it’s like a marathon and every single match you have to be really on your top. I’m not the right person to talk about if they are going to be contenders for one thing or the other. It’s more for Arteta to talk about that than myself. I can talk to you about what they did last three games at the beginning of the season, the way they started pre-season as well. They are playing good football, they are confident, you can see from the first minute of the first game the way they’ve started. Some players have come in and they’ve added something different for them as well. Gabriel Jesus is a good example, the central defender [William Saliba] is a good example as well, and they’ve added something important for them. They have a lot of individual quality, they are in a good moment, it will be tough for us, but we are in a good moment as well. Of course you want to go there to match them, to challenge them, to embrace the challenge that will definitely be a tough challenge for us, but we want to play the game and to match them.”
