Fulham’s second London derby this week, a first competitive win for Álvaro Arbeloa. If AFC Wimbledon represent a different echelon to Chelsea, Monday’s visitors, Thursday’s easy progress past League One opponents supplied several reasons for optimism in the new Fulham.
Marco Silva, Arbeloa’s predecessor, frequently offered sullen dismissal of the depth of his Fulham squad and yet left behind plenty of talent on departing for Benfica. Getting a better tune from Emile Smith Rowe and Rodrigo Muniz than Silva managed last season will help. The pair scored first-half goals to take the tie from Wimbledon’s reach, making for a second half of comfort and experimentation, glimpses of a different Fulham, teenage talent handed its chance to shine. Gonzalo García’s late strike, rounding Wimbledon goalkeeper Nathan Bishop for a second goal of the week, increased the excitement surrounding one of the summer’s most eye-catching signings.
