Player Ratings: Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Scores on the doors after our humbling at Arsenal
I wasn’t expecting much, but I didn’t think it would be that bad. Fulham were absolutely schooled by Arsenal on Saturday, and despite carrying the hopes of most of the nation, the Whites were unable to land a glove on the Gunners’ title challenge.
Not since Dominic Cummings travelled to Barnard Castle has there been a worse attempt to control the virus, which clearly affected Fulham’s preparation for this game, but the exact extent is still unknown. Side-effects included an inability to make a 5 yard pass and letting a side who played a tough game in Madrid on Wednesday look like prime 1970s Brazil.
Once again, for these Player Ratings, we’re also giving you the scores voted by Fulham fans on the excellent Fanalysis app.
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Bernd Leno
Not loads Bernd could have done about the three he conceded. Potentially the best save of the match was the one off his head to deny Calafiori a fourth goal. He was a little bit weak when he claimed a foul during that first half scramble, which led to Saka putting it wide. Otherwise this isn’t really one that you can lay at Bernd Leno’s door.
Fulhamish Rating: 6/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 65/100
Timothy Castagne
Again I think there were plenty of worse culprits on Sunday than Timmy Castagne. He does potentially get beaten a little bit easily by Trossard for the third goal. He was unlucky not to score with either his flicked header from the corner or that powerful shot late on.
Fulhamish Rating: 5/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 48/100
Joachim Andersen
It was an all-Scandinavian battle between Joachim Andersen and Viktor Gyokeres. Considering that the Swede scored twice and assisted the other, I think you have to comprehensively conclude that this was a battle that Joachim lost. The first goal in particular was far too easy, a move straight out of the Erling Haaland playbook by Gyokeres to (fairly) man-handle Joachim out of the way.
Fulhamish Rating: 4/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 51/100
Calvin Bassey
Again in a team full of problems, Calvin Bassey is one that can slip under the radar for today. I thought he was a bit sloppy on the ball but then again so was the entirety of our team. At least Bassey’s strength prevented Fulham getting over-run and I feel like without him on the pitch the scoreline could have been embarrassing.
Fulhamish Rating: 5/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 51/100
Antonee Robinson
Be honest, how many of you have skipped the rest of the article and flicked straight to this one? Of course, you have to caveat this with the fact that he was playing Arsenal, who could potentially still win the league and Champions League, but that was without doubt one of the worst individual performances of the season.
The first goal was just weird. Why is Raul the one marking Saka when it didn’t look like Robinson was marking anyone? Even if Jedi was where instructed, he was so slow to react once Raul had been beaten.
Obviously, the second goal that Saka scored is the one that everyone will look at. It’s so easy for Saka to make that run on the blind side. Joachim Andersen looked absolutely fuming with Robinson that somehow the England winger had been allowed to roam free and unchallenged into the box.
Robinson’s work on the ball was perhaps more troubling than his defensive work off it. I’m not sure if Robinson actually completed a pass in this match. Chukwueze wasn’t great (I’ll come on to him), but Samu looked bereft at times at some of the service he was getting. Even in the second half when Robinson was played in to a very promising crossing position, he couldn’t find any of the three players waiting in the box.
In all honesty, I think the most concerning part was that at times Robinson looked crestfallen. This will have undoubtedly been the toughest year of his career and I think think the mental strain is showing, it’s almost as if he doesn’t believe in himself anymore.
Fulhamish Rating: 2/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 41/100
Sasa Lukic
Sasa has been great since his return, but I thought he was poor here. He was unable to turnover possession in the same fashion as he did against Villa and he frequently gave it away when he did have the ball.
Also, his petulant challenge on Eze which earned him a yellow completely nullified his ability to properly compete in midfield, which I actually think was a fairly significant factor in our first half downfall.
Fulhamish Rating: 4.5/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 45/100
Harrison Reed
I don’t even want to be harsh on Harrison Reed, because what were we expecting to happen? A first league start in two years up against Declan Rice was always going to be a tall order. Understandably, he was miles off the pace - but is that really his fault? In my opinion, given the bind we were in, I’d have liked to have seen Josh King play alongside Sasa.
Fulhamish Rating: 4/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 42/100
Harry Wilson
Unlike Robinson who had a notably bad performance, Harry has an barely noticeable bad performance. Was he actually on the pitch the whole time? I think the past few weeks have been a regression to the Harry of years gone by, where games just drift him by.
In fairness, Marco seems to be using him as a right wing-back out-of-possession, which possibly isn’t helping Harry too much, but I’m not sure that’s an excuse. He is still our player of the season, but he needs to find some inspiration in the last few matches if it’s to be a fond farewell.
Fulhamish Rating: 4/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 45/100
Emile Smith Rowe
I mean, did he do anything? Arsenal fans may have some weird misty eyes for ESR, but surely none of them watched that performance and actually thought he would do a job for them? He just didn’t really touch the ball, except for the moment just before he went off with cramp where he shot into the side netting.
Fulhamish Rating: 4.5/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 48/100
Samu Chukwueze
Whilst not as bad as Robinson, Samu did nothing to help our left-wing woes. Poor touches, poor decision-making, just poor everything really. For me, it just looked like he wanted to long on the ball, and he was dispossessed far too often.
Fulham are apparently trying to get a discount from AC Milan for his permanent signature and if the bosses at The Rossoneri were watching this performance they might see why. A shadow of the player that terrorised Manchester City back in November.
Fulhamish Rating: 3.5/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 41/100
Raul Jimenez
Raul has been great this season, but sometimes you need to know your limits. Gabriel and Saliba made mince meat of Raul on Saturday, gobbling up every single long ball that came his way. Apart from that shot from distance he didn’t really get a sniff. Not necessarily his fault considering we could barely keep the ball.
Clearly, the first goal isn’t great, but if you’re depending on Raul to mark the best winger in the league, then you’ve probably not got your tactics tuned correctly.
Fulhamish Rating: 4/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 44/100
Subs and Manager
Tom Cairney
I was hoping that TC might come on and string a few successful passes, but at that point it was like a garden fence trying to stop a tidal wave.
Fulhamish Rating: 5/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 49/100
Josh King
The only one to come out with some credit. Came on and looked happy to have the ball and to try and do something with it.
Made the wrong decision to pass towards the end after his jinking run into the box when he should have shot himself, but it’s hard to be critical of JK when he fashioned the chance by himself.
Fulhamish Rating: 6/10 (MOTM)
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 53/100
Oscar Bobb
Didn’t really notice him that much except the few times he touched the ball he always seemed to pass it backwards to Timmy Castagne.
Fulhamish Rating: 4/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 46/100
Rodrigo Muniz
Again, can hardly remember him having a touch.
Fulhamish Rating: 4/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 46/100
Jonah Kusi-Asare
Looked quite lively in fairness, seen quite a bit of chat on social media about how we could do a lot worse than pay the Bayern release clause. Not convinced personally, but nice to see the lad get a runaround.
Fulhamish Rating: 5/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 46/100
Marco Silva
A performance that bad does have to come down to the manager. I think with hindsight, this was a match to play 5-at-the-back, especially when it became evident how affected we were by this virus. Was a little bit baffled why there were no half-time subs, but then again, what difference would have it made?
Ultimately, until he signs the contract - or tells us what the hell he’s doing next year, fan anger towards performances like these is going to land on the manager’s door.
Fulhamish Rating: 3/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 34/100