Fulham manager Marco Silva sat down exclusively with Sky Sports to offer insightful commentary ahead of his side’s crucial Premier League clash against Arsenal. With Fulham currently just three points away from securing a European spot, Silva reflects on his team’s remarkable start to the season, exceeding even his own expectations.
“I’m not surprised,” Silva stated. “While I didn’t anticipate this at the season’s outset, our consistent performances speak for themselves. We’ve been one of the best teams on the pitch in most games, deserving the points we’ve earned, and often even more. Considering the significant player turnover and squad changes during the summer, this quick and strong start is a testament to our new signings who integrated seamlessly into the team. They’ve elevated the performance of the existing squad.”
Turning his attention to Sunday’s formidable opponents, Silva acknowledges Arsenal’s strength: “Arsenal is a top team, title contenders in my view. Mikel Arteta has done a fantastic job. They possess both exceptional collective tactics and individual brilliance, forming a truly solid unit. Their physicality, evident from Odegaard to the forward line, makes it challenging for opponents to create many chances. However, we’re prepared. Despite a condensed preparation period—having played on Thursday, compared to Arsenal’s Wednesday match—we won’t use it as an excuse. We’ll strive for victory, just as we did in our two matches against them last season.”
Silva detailed his strategy to counter Arsenal’s renowned set-pieces: “We have a well-defined plan to defend set-pieces. Arsenal’s prowess in this area is well-documented; they’ve decided many games through set-pieces. We’re fully aware of the challenge. But, significantly, we’ve previously demonstrated our ability to manage this aspect of the game effectively against them, even scoring twice from set-pieces last season without conceding from any of theirs. We must maintain focus, confidence, and a strong defensive and offensive approach.”
Silva expressed immense satisfaction with Alex Iwobi’s outstanding season: “Alex’s performance has been incredible, though not surprising to us. From pre-season and the early Premier League matches, we sensed his potential for an even better season than the last. His versatility is invaluable; he can seamlessly transition between different positions within a match, adding significant offensive impact through assists and goals. We are thrilled with his progress.”
Regarding Emile Smith Rowe’s Fulham debut, Silva commented: “Emile is a key player for us. We knew, given his lack of playing time in the last two seasons, there might be fluctuations in consistency. But he’s consistently improving with more training and match experience. The goal is to enhance his consistency throughout the full 90 minutes, a goal we’re both working towards. He’s already delivered what we anticipated, and we expect even greater consistency going forward.”
On the possibility of additional motivation for Smith Rowe and Iwobi facing their former club, Silva offered: “It will likely be an emotional experience for Emile, his first game against his former team. While I don’t necessarily expect extra motivation, the emotional aspect will undoubtedly be present. He loves Arsenal, but he’s equally committed to Fulham now, and he will give his all for a victory.”
Finally, on the topic of potential January transfers, Silva concluded: “We must proceed cautiously. This current squad deserves all the praise. Adding new players requires them to bring exceptional extra quality to warrant their inclusion. Simply adding another player isn’t sufficient; the player needs to significantly elevate our team’s performance, which demands a considerable investment. We’ll assess the situation and our budget accordingly.”
