Alvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham turnaround: From sack favourite to back-to-back wins

Two weeks ago, Alvaro Arbeloa looked like the Premier League manager most likely to lose his job. Fulham were bottom of the table without a league win. Now, after back-to-back victories over Hull and Coventry, they are up to 12th and the pressure has eased.

How close was Alvaro Arbeloa to the sack?

Alvaro Arbeloa arrived from Real Madrid in July on a three-year deal, replacing Marco Silva, who left for Benfica. It was a bold appointment. The former Liverpool full-back had only been coaching for a few years, and had stepped up to lead Madrid’s first team in January after Xabi Alonso left.

The start was brutal. Fulham took two points from their first six games, and a 2-1 defeat at Ipswich, in a game they led with two minutes left, made Alvaro Arbeloa the bookmakers’ favourite in the Premier League sack race. Oddschecker reported that the board wanted at least four points from the next two games against Hull and Coventry.

Fulham took six.

Back-to-back wins and back-to-back clean sheets

Alex Iwobi scored the only goal as Fulham beat Hull 1-0 at Craven Cottage on 17 October. It was Arbeloa’s first Premier League win, and they held on despite Ryan Sessegnon’s stoppage-time red card.

Then on Saturday, Oscar Bobb curled in an 80th-minute winner at Coventry for his first Premier League goal for Fulham. It was the club’s first away league win of the season, ended a run of eight away games without a win, and gave them consecutive Premier League wins for the first time since March.

Bobb told Sky Sports the result “feels like a turning point”.

Arbeloa backs Fulham’s young core

The most telling thing about the turnaround is who is delivering it. Last season Fulham leaned on experienced players such as Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez. Arbeloa has put his faith in younger attackers instead, including Bobb, Josh King and Gonzalo Garcia.

“I trust them because I think they are the present and the future of Fulham,” Arbeloa said after the Coventry win.

When Fulham appointed him, owner Shahid Khan highlighted Arbeloa’s interest in the academy and his willingness to give young players a chance. That approach looked like a risk in September. It looks a lot smarter now.

What next for Alvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham?

The next test comes quickly. Fulham host Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday night. Palace boss Pierre Sage is now the man under the most pressure in south London. Two wins do not make a season, but Fulham have finally given themselves some breathing room. Follow every result in our Premier League table.