Kepa Arrizabalaga is not good enough to retain the No 1 jersey at Chelsea according to former goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Kepa has been back between the sticks for much of the season in relation to a shoulder injury to regular keeper Edouard Mendy having struggled to produce his best form since arriving for £72million in 2018.
But the 28-year-old has been criticised for his role in allowing Everton to snatch a draw at Chelsea on Saturday to deny Graham Potter‘s side a fourth consecutive victory in all competitions.
Leading 2-1 heading into the final minute, the keeper allowed Ellis Simms to score his first Toffees goal and snatch a crucial point for Sean Dyche‘s relegation threatened side having beaten Kepa from a tight angle.
Former England stopper Foster claims it was a shot Kepa should have saved and that he doesn’t have the ability to carry the No 1 shirt going forward.
Kepa Arrizabalaga has been Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper for much of the season
But he was criticised for allowing Everton’s Ellis Simms to snatch a late 2-2 draw at Chelsea
‘Let’s talk about Everton’s equaliser because I think Kepa should save it,’ the former Manchester United, West Brom and Watford goalkeeper said on his YouTube channel. ‘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.
‘It’s a slightly awkward one so I’ve got a bit of sympathy but you need to make those big saves. He fell a little bit short.
‘I don’t think Kepa is the right guy for it, full stop. I don’t think he’s the long-term solution.
Kepa has played 151 times for Chelsea, conceding 154 goals and keeping 58 clean sheets but is likely to lose his place to back to Mendy once he returns from injury.
Foster though believes that even if Potter isn’t convinced by Mendy either, Kepa can no longer be considered to be a long term choice for the Blues.
‘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.
‘They spent £70m on Kepa by the way and £25m on Mendy, that’s almost £100m on goalkeepers.’
Ben Foster has claimed the Spanish stopper does not have the ability to retain the No 1 jersey.
source: dailymail.co.uk