Fulham began the Alvaro Arbeloa era with a 2-0 loss to Norwich City in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Motspur Park. The Spanish manager, appointed this summer to replace Marco Silva, saw his side fall behind in the 18th minute when Anis Ben Slimane slotted past Bernd Leno. Harry Darling added a second from a corner in the second half, sealing the Canaries' fifth pre-season victory.
What happened in the match?
Fulham fielded two entirely different lineups across the two halves, with Arbeloa testing a 4-2-3-1 formation. Kevin and Tom Cairney had the best chances for the Cottagers, while Ryan Sessegnon and debutant Farhaan Ali Wahid also forced saves from the Norwich keeper. Youngster Josh King started after training with England’s World Cup squad, while 18-year-old Macaulay Zepa made his first appearance since signing professionally.
Why it matters for Fulham
This was Arbeloa’s first match in charge, and while friendlies rarely define a season, the result will give him food for thought. The former Real Madrid manager has inherited a squad with Champions League ambitions, and pre-season performances will be scrutinized as he looks to shape his team. The loss comes ahead of a training camp in Portugal, where Fulham will face Saudi side Al Ahli before hosting VfB Stuttgart at Craven Cottage.
What comes next for Fulham?
Fulham’s pre-season continues with a warm-weather training camp in Portugal, where they will take on Al Ahli. Their final friendly before the Premier League kicks off will be against VfB Stuttgart at Craven Cottage. Arbeloa will hope to fine-tune his tactics and build cohesion before the competitive season begins.
