The Cottagers play fine football under Silva and Arsenal have made a good albeit not convincing start. We had to battle hard for those six points and lean heavily on our defence, but the boys did the job and the points are in the bag.
With the horrible red Mancs coming to the Home of Football next week, we need a really good win today to boost morale. And with two home games in a row (three out of four since the start) we have a great opportunity to build on those early wins. Of course, the biggest risk is to underestimate Silva’s men, and with Palhinha returning to Fulham’s midfield, they will make it difficult for us.
I wrote in a previous post that our left side is not ticking along as yet. We still miss Granit, and we need much more cohesion between the players there. A lot seems to be going through Bukayo and we have become a bit predictable as a result. Now, with the likely return of the Zinch as left back and possibly Gab Jesus, we should see an improvement, both on the left and through the middle. it has been a bit static until now, and with the added thrust of Zinchenko and movement up-front of Jesus, I think we will be dancing again.
Reading between the lines, I don’t think Jesus -the Dancer- will start today, but it is good to know that he is almost fully fit again. Eddie really is the perfect alternative: more of a line-dancer than a specialist in the Charleston, but it works somehow. IF he was any better he would not be our backup CF, and yet he is good enough to do a more than decent job every time he starts. Eddie is also still young and will develop further, so all good.
No Tomiyasu, after a ridiculous double yellow on Monday, probably means another start at right back for Thomas. I am still struggling with playing him there, as I feel he needs to be the back up for Declan Rice, and we all know that Partey is injury-prone. But Arteta knows best of course.
