Fulham youngsters shine for Arbeloa

By the Editorial Team · Friday, August 28, 2026

Fulham defeated AFC Wimbledon 3-0 at Craven Cottage to advance to the third round of the Carabao Cup, securing Álvaro Arbeloa's first win as head coach. The victory showcased Fulham’s young, attacking lineup and highlighted promising performances from recent signings and academy players, boosting optimism ahead of their next match against West Ham.

Fulham secured a 3-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon at Craven Cottage on Wednesday, advancing to the third round of the Carabao Cup where they will face West Ham. The win marked Álvaro Arbeloa’s first competitive success as Fulham’s head coach, achieved with a youthful and attacking lineup that controlled possession throughout the match.

Fulham dominated the game by circulating the ball effectively, with Harrison Reed orchestrating play and Shea Charles pushing forward in midfield. Wimbledon, competing in League One, employed a disciplined 5-4-1 defensive setup, aiming to inconvenience the home side despite limited possession.

Wimbledon’s only notable pressure occurred around the 20-minute mark when Myles Hippolyte created space on the edge of Fulham’s penalty area and sent a powerful cross toward Callum Maycock, whose volley narrowly missed the target. Shortly afterward, Emile Smith Rowe had a promising chance after a clever play by Charles and a loose ball following an interception by Steven Sessegnon, but his attempt also went wide.

Fulham opened the scoring in the 37th minute through Smith Rowe, a former Arsenal midfielder. Kenny Tete delivered a floated cross to the far post, which Ryan Sessegnon redirected across goal, allowing Smith Rowe to head the ball home. The visitors’ resistance ended five minutes later when Muniz capitalized on another Tete cross, outjumping his marker to double Fulham’s lead past goalkeeper Nathan Bishop.

At halftime, Arbeloa introduced 18-year-old debutant Macaulay Zepa in place of 23-year-old Oscar Bobb. Zepa made an immediate impact, showing confidence and linking well with Tete on the right flank. Fellow youth player Kevin, noted for his speed and flair, also impressed by unsettling Wimbledon’s defence during the second half.

The highlight of the night came from 22-year-old Gonzalo García, who scored his first goal on his Premier League debut after transferring from Real Madrid, where he netted 12 times last season. García combined well with Zepa, who drove forward before releasing the attacker. García displayed composure by outpacing defender Dan Sweeney, rounding goalkeeper Bishop, and slotting the ball into an empty net to complete the scoring.

While the match lacked the intensity of Fulham’s recent Premier League clash with Chelsea, the performance underscored Arbeloa’s reliance on emerging talents and provided fans with optimism about the team’s future prospects.

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