Fulham put in one of their weakest performances of the season as league leaders Arsenal comfortably beat them 3–0 at Craven Cottage.
Marco Silva’s side were looking for a reaction to their 3–2 defeat to Brentford on Monday, but they were behind when Gabriel headed Leandro Trossard’s corner into the net.
In a flowing move five minutes later, Trossard crossed for Gabriel Martinelli to nod home the second.
And it was three in first half stoppage time when the Belgian grabbed his third assist of the match as Martin Odegaard found the corner coolly.
It didn’t get any worse for Fulham in the second half, but a defeat of this margin will dent their confidence of securing a European place for next season.
Dom Smith was at Craven Cottage to rate the Fulham players.
Bernd Leno 5
Tough afternoon for the former Arsenal player facing his old club. Saved well from Gabriel Martinelli’s miss-hit volley and wasn’t personally at fault for any of the goals. But there were three of them.
Kenny Tete 5
Beaten far too easily by through-balls in behind his channel. But he did step in well to intercept on occasion.
Tosin Adarabioyo 4
In ahead of Issa Diop, but perhaps not for the foreseeable. Aerially he was well beaten by Gabriel’s opener when he was the closest man in white to the opening scorer.
Tim Ream 5
Fulham’s entire defence endured a shambolic afternoon. Ream, at least, came out with some credit. Didn’t win as many headers as he usually would and should but tried to get Fulham moving by playing into the feet of their attackers.
Antonee Robinson 2
It’s not fun to give a player a 2 out of 10, but neither was it enjoyable to watch Antonee Robinson at work this afternoon. Outbattled in the air for one goal and jumped too early for another. Saved from an own-goal by VAR. A torrid day at the office.
Harrison Reed 6
Fulham’s midfield were unable to link the defence and attack, but Reed at least didn’t get lost in the game.
Sasa Lukic 5
That brings us to Lukic, who was playing in place of the suspended Joao Palhinha — a huge miss on the day. Largely invisible against an admittedly well-oiled Arsenal midfield.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid 5
Didn’t affect play in the way he’d have hoped, coming into the side for Willian who didn’t feature due to a minor injury.
Andreas Pereira 6
Deserves credit for being Fulham’s most dangerous attacker. However, some of his decision-making was more than questionable. Often chose to shoot when passing would have been the more sensible option.
Manor Solomon 6
His five-game scoring streak is over. Played OK for the first half an hour but then Fulham regressed and so did he.
Aleksandar Mitrovic 6
His hold-up play is never in question and was again top-class against a street-smart centre-back in Willian Saliba. Didn’t get close to finding the net.
Subs:
Dan James (Pereira, 76) 4
Fast, but poor.
Harry Wilson (Solomon, 76) 5
Not as fast, but not as poor.
Subs not used: Marek Rodak, George Wickens, Carlos Vinicius, Issa Diop, Tyrese Francois, Luke Harris, Charlie Robinson
