Kepa Arrizabalaga continued his resurgence at Chelsea on Wednesday. While The Blues could only manage a 0-0 draw against Brentford, the Spanish goalkeeper was once again excellent. He was his fifth consecutive clean sheet in all competitions for the club.
Before the Brentford match, head coach Graham Potter praised his goalkeeper’s perseverance. “It’s a good example that it doesn’t always go your way, and you have to suffer in life sometimes, it’s not always perfect,” Potter told a news conference.
“I am really impressed with his character and personality, he is very professional, he understands the game very well, he takes responsibility. So it’s nice when those kinds of people get the rewards, which is a reward for their hard work and effort.”
Kepa Arrizabala returns to Chelsea
Kepa previously lost his number one spot between sticks to Edouard Mendy. The Spanish goalkeeper arrived at Chelsea from Athletic Club for 88 million dollars in 2018, which is a world record for transfers in his position. However, Kepa failed to impress and the Blues bought Mendy just two years later.
Mendy quickly earned the No. 1 spot after arriving from French club Rennes. The Senegalese international has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League. Indeed, UEFA named Mendy in the 2020/21 Champions League Team of the Year as Chelsea won the competition. That same year, Mendy won the FIFA Best Goalkeeper award.
However, Potter chose Kepa for every match he has been in charge with the west London club. And the now 28-year-old goalkeeper has performed exceptionally well. Of the six games he has started in October, Kepa has only allowed one goal. The goal also came in the opening game of the month.
Nobody knows how long Kepa remains in the starting eleven. Potter doesn’t want to play the goalkeeper position for now.
PHOTO: IMAGO / UK Sports Pics Ltd
