Chelsea have had plenty of issues this season and hence they are 10th in the Premier League. However former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster has urged the Blues to look for a better first-choice goalkeeper after Kepa Arrizabalaga failed to impress him in the recent 2-2 draw against Everton.
Graham Potter’s men were very close to sealing a win over Everton until they conceded a late equaliser and ended up getting a single point from the fixture. It was Ellis Simms who scored the goal and Foster feels that a keeper at this level should be stopping that from gioing in. Simms got past Kalidou Koulibaly and struck his shot from a tight angle. Despite getting a hand to the ball Kepa failed to stop it from going in.
But Foster believes that at this level these are the saves that one expects their goalkeeper to make. He was very disappointed with the Chelsea goalkeeper. He highlights the repercussions that would have happened had he saved it as it was late in the game with chelsea holding onto a slender lead.
“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. These the fine margins, but I think a top goalie has to save that,” Foster said on his YouTube channel.
The 39-year-old former Goalkeeper who has represented Manchester Untied, West Bromwich Albion and Watford feels Chelsea should be searching for a new goalkeeper to replace the Spaniard. Foster isn’t sure that Kepa is the first man for the job.
“I don’t think Kepa is the right guy for it, full stop. I don’t think he’s the long-term solution. I think at the end of the season either Mendy will get fit and get back in the team or they will need to go into the market and sign somebody,” he added.
Kepa has never had a smooth ride at the Stamford Bridge ever since joining Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao in 2018. He was second choice for a large part until he became the first choice goalkeeper for Graham Potter. He has featured in 27 matches across competitions and have kept 11 clean-sheets.
Despite everything Kepa has never managed to stamp his authority and cement a slot in the starting lineup. He was earlier linked with Newcastle United. While the Blues were looking at Brentford’s Spanish custodian David Raya as an option to end their goalkeeping woes.
