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Jake Wilkin
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.
“Tough, tough result for us,” Silva began. “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.
“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,” Marco described.
“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.
“Great, great performance,” said Marco. “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.”
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta
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After seeing his side come back from a goal down to beat Fulham, Mikel Arteta was thrilled with the response of his players, especially Gabriel who popped up with the winner five minutes from time.
The Brazilian defender atoned for his error that cost us the opening goal, and Arteta was quick to inform those gathered for his post-match press conference of the efforts he has made to improve his game over recent months.
Here is everything the boss had to say about today's game:
on the match...
I'm really happy with the performance, with the attitude and the mentality that the team showed. I think we were on top of the game, so it was about being patient and the goal would come because we deserved that.
We had to avoid mistakes, we made an error and it cost us the goal, but even though that happened I think the team showed that against adversity, and Gabi individually how he continued to play. With the supporters, and with the support that we have in the stadium right now, it makes things much easier and the team deserved to win. It's as simple as that.
on Gabriel's reaction after making an error... It's just the reaction of everybody after the goal. Straight away the stadium just gives support to that player, gives belief and then the player has to show courage to continue playing.
This is part of football, mistakes are part of it and it's going to continue to happen, but it's about how you respond to that and I'm really pleased. It's not a coincidence with Gabi because the way he's changed his mentality and the way he approaches every single day is different to a year or two ago.
on the changes Gabriel has made...
The way he looks after himself every day, that is the most important thing in his life apart from his little daughter and his family, and how consistent he is every day in his habits and how much he really wants to become one of the best.
on our response to going a goal down... We have grown up, we have more alternatives. I think we have matured as well. Playing in front of these supporters helps because they are driving you as well and then a lot of that is about belief and confidence that you can do it and really believe that you can do it, and now we have that belief.
on the connection with our supporters... I don't know any top teams, winning teams, that don't have that connection with their supporters. I just had a person that I really like, that I love, that I haven't seen for a while, it's the first time that he's been at the stadium for two years and he says it's the best he's heard since Highbury, so well done.
on Martin Odegaard's performance... Influence and in difficult moments, take the ball and make things happen and that's what he's done.
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