Fulham boss Marco Silva is not overly concerned by Arsenal’s reputation for scoring from set-pieces, despite the Gunners’ impressive performances in recent matches.
Ahead of their Premier League clash at Craven Cottage on Sunday, Silva reminded Arsenal that his Fulham side had successfully handled their set-piece threats last season.
Fulham’s Set-Piece Record Against Arsenal
The Cottagers faced Arsenal twice last season, managing a 2-2 draw at the Emirates and securing a 2-1 win at Craven Cottage.
Silva reflected on these results, particularly the fact that Fulham had scored twice from set-pieces in those games, while Arsenal failed to do so against them. Silva hopes to replicate this success in their upcoming match.
Silva’s Confidence and Arsenal’s Awareness
Despite the set-piece threat, Silva expressed confidence in his team’s ability to face Arsenal’s challenge. He noted that Arsenal’s impressive results last season would only increase Arteta’s awareness of Fulham’s strengths.
Silva also acknowledged the challenge of facing Arsenal while coming off a short turnaround after their 3-1 victory over Brighton.
He believes that this will make the match even tougher for Fulham, but he is excited by the challenge. Silva emphasized that no one surprises anyone in the Premier League anymore, and every match is tough.
Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta also spoke about the importance of set-pieces in his side’s play, noting that his goal is to make Arsenal the best at every aspect of the game, including set-pieces, high pressing, and player development.
Arteta expressed his ambition to lead the club to excellence in every area of football, making Arsenal a formidable force both domestically and internationally.