Ben Foster feels Chelsea must replace goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga
Ben Foster believes Chelsea should replace Kepa Arrizabalaga because he isn’t a long-term solution in goal. The 28-year-old received criticism for allowing an easy goal against Everton, who held the Blues to a draw last Saturday.
Chelsea would have recorded their fourth straight victory if Kepa had reacted quickly to deny Ellis Simms in the 89th minute. In the end, we had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Kalidou Koulibaly, though, was also at fault, as he allowed Simms to go through him before putting the ball past the Spanish goalkeeper. However, one would argue that the most expensive goalkeeper in history should have done better.
And Foster believes that if Chelsea decides to drop Kepa, the Spaniard should have few complaints. The standards for a club such as Chelsea is high and Kepa cannot keep downing his tools as the last line of defence.
Foster claimed in a YouTube video that if Kepa had saved that (h/t Evening Standard), then the Blues would have had nine points in their last three Premier League games heading into the international break.
“Let’s talk about Everton’s equaliser because I think Kepa should save it,”
“A top goalkeeper saves that. This is a big moment; we’re in injury time, so if he saves that, it’s 2-1, three points, boom, everyone is happy. These are the fine margins, but I think a top goalie has to save that.”
“He fell a little bit short. I don’t think Kepa is the right guy for it, period. I don’t think he’s the long-term solution.”
Foster could be right about Kepa’s position because the 28-year-old has remained slow to react towards the shot. His confidence between the sticks is inconsistent and he tends to concede easy goals.
And if this happens repeatedly, Graham Potter will stop trusting him and start Edouard Mendy, who is close to recovering from an injury.
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Kepa had a whole season to prove his value, but he hasn’t made much of an effect. Chelsea will undoubtedly sign a young keeper for the upcoming season, further jeopardising Kepa’s position. He still has time, nevertheless, to disprove his critics for the time being.