Álvaro Arbeloa received a timely lifeline after leading Fulham to their first Premier League victory of the season with a 1-0 win over Hull City, amid reports that had put the Spanish manager just two matches away from sack.
Fulham had to wait until the seventh matchday to record their first win, but they produced their best performance yet under Arbeloa, asserting dominance from the opening whistle and failing to allow Hull City a single shot on target throughout the contest at Craven Cottage.
Alex Iwobi scored the game’s only goal in the 33rd minute, punishing the visitors’ defense for an error while playing out from the back, as a deflection off a defender helped his strike deceive goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis. Gonzalo García nearly doubled the lead with a header that rebounded off the crossbar, while the Greek goalkeeper kept the deficit to one with a series of saves.
The victory was not without its negative notes, as Ryan Sessegnon was shown a straight red card in the 94th minute following a reckless challenge on Robinho Vaz; however, that did not prevent Fulham from keeping their first clean sheet under Arbeloa and ending a nearly two-month wait for a win.
The victory came at a time when the English press was reporting that Arbeloa had been given the Hull City and Coventry matches to save his position, with Thomas Frank’s name widely circulated among the leading candidates to replace him. Nevertheless, the manager received public backing from Fulham owner Shahid Khan prior to kickoff.
“I want to reiterate that we are moving in the right direction; the team has shown character, commitment, and capability,” Khan said in a message to the club’s supporters.
The Fulham owner added: “Let’s stand behind Álvaro and the team, and let’s start our turnaround today.”
The crisis was not solely tied to results; The Telegraph reported that some players remained unconvinced by Arbeloa’s attacking system, feeling it left the team defensively exposed, alongside criticisms regarding the quality of training compared to what it was under former manager Marco Silva, as well as objections over the reliance on Gonzalo García, César Palacios, and Manuel Ángel, who all arrived from Real Madrid.
Speculation over dressing room unrest had previously intensified after Iwobi and Emile Smith Rowe removed Fulham references from their social media accounts, while Brazilian winger Kévin posted a cryptic message after being benched against Crystal Palace. However, no player made a public statement confirming an outright revolt, and Iwobi himself turned out to be the author of Arbeloa’s lifeline goal against Hull City.
Responding to the sacking rumors, Arbeloa said: “Rumors? No, I am focused on the players and the team. It’s not about me; it’s about the club and the fans.”
The Spanish coach added: “It was a normal week where we worked very hard. It’s just another week for me.”
Fulham raised their total to five points from seven matches—recording one win, two draws, and four defeats—to climb provisionally from bottom of the table to 15th place and exit the relegation zone, having scored seven goals while conceding ten.
Arbeloa’s survival remains temporary, as Fulham travel to face Coventry on October 24 in the second match described by reports as decisive for his future. They then host Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the EFL Cup, ahead of consecutive fixtures against Aston Villa, Newcastle, and Manchester City, which will determine whether the victory over Hull represents a genuine turning point or merely a delay of the inevitable dismissal.
