By Paul Green at the Emirates
MARCO Silva was quick to defend and praise Rodrigo Muniz after a big miss in Tuesday night’s 2-1 defeat at Arsenal.
The Brazilian had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes after coming off the bench to replace Raul Jimenez with Fulham already two down to goals either side of the break from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka.
Muniz looked certain to halve the deficit but somehow placed a free header wide after being set up by fellow substitute Alex Iwobi.
Despite the howler, Muniz still managed to find the target deep into stoppage-time to set up a tense late finish, although the Gunners held on for three points.
Silva said: “I think from a mental point of view it is good for him at least, but Rodrigo of course understands what is a striker like right now.
“He cannot be so down.
“Okay, we all understand that probably it was one of the easiest goal [chances] of his career so far, but sometimes the life of a striker is like that.”
The Fulham boss added: “The reality is you cannot be so down when something happens. I saw him fighting until the end to try to get something from the game.
“He scored one and even after that he was there on the game.
“That is the main thing for me, that he was already more mature and he understands what his job in our team is, what it means to be a striker at this level and sometimes you have to score that type of goal.
“But of course sometimes it can happen in this type of situation.
“The reality is he was able to score one goal and be on the game – that is what I demand from him.”
Bernd Leno did well to save Ethan Nwaneri’s volley but there was nothing he could do to prevent Merino’s 37th-minute effort going in via a deflection off Jorge Cuenca.
Martin Odegaard blazed wildly over early in the second half shortly before David Raya was called into action to deny Jimenez.
Leno required a brief spell of treatment after his stomach prevented Jurren Timber from doubling the home side’s lead on 54 minutes following a neat one-two with Odegaard.
William Saliba headed just over after rising high to meet Odegaard’s free-kick, while Adams Traore should have at least tested Raya at the other end after robbing Jakub Kiwior of possession.
But the Cottagers were undone in the 73rd minute as Arsenal added a second.
Substitute Saka marked his return to first-team action with a simple close range header after Merino’s cross was flicked on by Gabriel Martinelli.
Then came substitute Muniz’s 81st-minute miss and there was still time for Ryan Sessegnon to head straight at Raya before Martinelli saw an effort ruled out for offside.
Muniz atoned for his earlier howler deep into stoppage-time with a consolation strike that went in off Saliba.
But it was too little, too late from the visitors and in truth they can have few complaints about the outcome.
