Kepa Arrizabalaga ‘NOT the right guy for Chelsea’, insists former goalkeeper Ben Foster, as he claims the Spanish keeper ‘should have saved’ Everton’s late equalizer at the Blues
- Kepa Arrizabalaga has been Chelsea’s goalkeeper while Edouard Mendy is injured
- But he couldn’t stop Everton from snatching a late 2-2 draw at Chelsea
- Doubts remain as to whether the £72m keeper has a future as number 1
Kepa Arrizabalaga is not good enough to retain the number 1 shirt at Chelsea according to former goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Kepa has been back between the sticks for much of the season in connection with a shoulder injury to regular goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who has struggled to produce his best form since he arrived for £72m in 2018.
But the 28-year-old has come under fire for his role in allowing Everton to snatch a draw at Chelsea on Saturday to deny Graham Potter’s side a fourth successive win in all competitions.
Leading 2-1 at the last minute, the goalkeeper allowed Ellis Simms to score his first Toffees goal and snatched a crucial point for the relegation-threatened side of Sean Dyche who beat Kepa from a tight angle.
Former England goalkeeper Foster claims it was a shot that Kepa should have saved and that he does not have the ability to wear the number 1 shirt in future.
Kepa Arrizabalaga has been Chelsea’s starting goalkeeper for much of the season
But he was criticized for allowing Everton’s Ellis Simms to snatch a late 2-2 draw at Chelsea.
‘Let’s talk about Everton’s equalizer because I think Kepa should save it,’ the former Manchester United, West Brom and Watford goalkeeper said in his Youtube channel. ‘A superior goalkeeper saves that.
“This is a great moment, we’re in stoppage time, so if he stops it, it’s 2-1, three points, boom, everybody’s happy.” These are fine margins, but I think a top goalkeeper has to save that.
“It’s a little awkward, so I have a little sympathy, but you have to make those big savings.” He fell a bit short.
‘I don’t think Kepa is the right guy for that, period. I don’t think it’s the long-term solution.
Ben Foster has claimed that the Spanish goalkeeper does not have the ability to retain the number 1 shirt
Kepa has played 151 times for Chelsea, conceding 154 goals and keeping 58 clean sheets, but is likely to lose his place to back Mendy once he returns from injury.
However, Foster believes that even if Mendy doesn’t convince Potter either, Kepa can no longer be considered a long-term option for the Blues.
“I think at the end of the season, Mendy will get fit and come back to the team or they will have to go to the market and sign someone.”
“By the way, they spent £70m on Kepa and £25m on Mendy, that’s almost £100m on goalkeepers.”