Arbeloa: We've made mistakes but Fulham on right path

Arbeloa has shifted Fulham to a more defensive approach after a poor start, recording back-to-back 1-0 wins and cutting expected goals conceded by 80 per cent.

Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa has acknowledged early mistakes in his tenure but insists the club is on the right path after two consecutive 1-0 victories against Coventry and Hull. The team started poorly, going winless in their first six games and conceding nearly two goals per match, which left them bottom of the Premier League.

Arbeloa has adapted his tactical approach, moving away from the open, attacking style that characterised his debut. Instead, Fulham are now employing a more conservative system with a low or medium block, focusing on controlling possession and managing transitions. This shift has been dramatic: expected goals conceded have dropped from 1.69 per game to 0.67 across the last two matches—a reduction of almost 80 per cent.

The change has come at a cost for summer signing Gonzalo Garcia, the 22-year-old striker labelled one of the world's best upon arrival. Despite making the second-most attacking runs in the Premier League this season, he has not scored a league goal since his Chelsea debut. Arbeloa believes better service from wide areas and improved final-third play will help, but stressed that Garcia must continue doing his defensive work for the team. Fulham also face a late-game vulnerability, having conceded a league-high five goals in the final 20 minutes.