December 25, 2024

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink slates ‘terrible’ defending by Fulham defender

Fulham #Fulham

  • The former forward slammed the defending after Gabriel Martinelli scored
  • Gabriel had given Arsenal the lead after nodding in a header at a corner
  • Martin Odegaard capped a brilliant first half performance with well-taken effort 
  • Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink has slammed Fulham defender Antonee Robinson for his efforts in trying to stop Gabriel Martinelli double Arsenal’s advantage at Craven Cottage. 

    The Brazilian scored moments after his compatriot Gabriel had given Mikel Arteta’s side the lead after 20 minutes. 

    A brilliant Martin Odegaard effort on the stroke of half-time ensured they went in 3-0 up at the break and very much in cruise control.

    Arteta’s side, should they hold on, will restore their five-point advantage over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

    Speaking at half-time, Hasselbaink praised Arsenal as being ‘magnificent’ but was left thoroughly unimpressed by the defending of Robinson.

    ‘Arsenal is brilliant, when you press you have to go man-for-man. Saliba finds Xhaka. Xhaka gets Trossard one-v-one. Martinelli, brilliant header,’ he said.

    ‘But how bad is this defending from Robinson? Terrible. This could be stopped. He has to come back to the safe side (goal side). He has to make it physical, he doesn’t do that and gets punished.’

    Jamie Redknapp, working alongside Hasselbaink for Sky, echoed the Dutchman’s sentiments on Fulham’s poor defending, criticising their play for the third goal.

    A crossfield pass was intercepted which eventually led to Odegaard scoring the third.

    ‘Don’t do square passes and square throw ins across your own field, you will just get caught out time and time again,’ he warned.

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