Arbeloa backs Fulham attack and highlights Iwobi’s impact

Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa has praised Alex Iwobi and his other attacking players despite the club’s limited goal return this season.

Arbeloa was speaking at his press conference on Friday before Fulham’s Premier League fixture against Coventry City at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Fulham are 18th in the table after their 1-0 victory against Hull City last weekend, their first win of the campaign. They have scored only seven goals in their opening seven matches – an average of one per game.

Iwobi was on target in the first half against Hull City, helping the Cottagers secure the three points.

Only Nottingham Forest, Sunderland, Coventry City and Tottenham Hotspur have scored fewer goals than Fulham so far this season.

However, Arbeloa rejected the suggestion that his forwards are underperforming. The Spanish manager said strikers can go through periods when chances do not result in goals before suddenly finding the net with almost every opportunity.

“For a striker especially, there are moments when they don’t score easy goals, and after some games, they score with every touch they make in the box. You never know,” Arbeloa told reporters.

He said Fulham’s attackers had to maintain their standards and continue pushing themselves, while also insisting their performances had been positive.

“They need to challenge themselves; that is very important because, for me, they are doing so well. Goals are the consequence of a good squad. So, for me, Gonzalo, Oscar, Alex (Iwobi), Rodrigo, all our attacking players are doing well.

“Good work, so they need to continue doing the same things. And we will work on finishing during the training sessions.”

Fulham will face Coventry City looking to build on their victory over Hull City and improve their scoring record in the Premier League.