Alvaro Arbeloa admitted that Fulham’s early Premier League campaign has been fraught with mistakes, but he insists the team is now on the right path. The former Spain defender, who took over the club in the summer, has already seen the club’s fortunes swing from a 3‑2 loss to Chelsea in his debut to a series of narrow defeats that left the Cottagers at the bottom of the table.
After six league matches, Fulham had gone winless and were conceding almost two goals per game. The new manager said the team had learned from those errors and was working hard to become a more solid side. “We are improving, we’re working hard and for us to be a very solid team is so important,” Arbeloa told Sky Sports. He explained that his approach had shifted from an open, attacking style to a more controlled, possession‑based game that prioritises ball retention and quick transitions. The change has already produced a noticeable drop in expected goals conceded, with the team allowing just 0.67xG in their last two matches compared with 1.69xG over the first six games.
The shift has also affected the club’s new record signing, 22‑year‑old Gonzalo García. Despite making the second‑most off‑the‑ball runs in the Premier League this season, García has yet to score a league goal since his debut against Chelsea. Arbeloa said the striker’s pace and power are assets, but the team needs to improve its service to him, especially from wide areas. “We need to look for him when he runs. He has the pace, he has the power,” the manager said. “As a team we can do better in the final third. It’s something we’re working hard on.”
Defensively, Fulham has struggled to hold onto leads, conceding a league‑high five goals in the final 20 minutes of games and losing five points in that period. Arbeloa acknowledged that the physicality and directness of the Premier League, particularly in the closing stages, are challenges he is still adapting to as a manager. “It’s more physical here, more direct, especially in the last 15‑20 minutes of games when it’s less controlled,” he said.
With a trip to Villa Park against Aston Villa looming, the Cottagers face a stern test of how far they have progressed since the difficult start. The match, scheduled for 7:45 pm on Saturday, will be a key moment for Arbeloa to demonstrate whether his adjustments have turned Fulham into a more resilient and effective side.