Kepa Arrizabalga doesn’t need to return to Chelsea in the summertime (his personal phrases), and that’s simply high-quality with me.
I used to be preaching all summer time that we would have liked to signal a brand new primary, and for me I’m staying a bit cautious on whether or not Robert Sanchez will 100% be that man as of now, however he’s actually an enchancment on Kepa.
What I’ve seen from Sanchez to date is VERY encouraging. However the principle factor for me is only a easy truth, and that truth is that Sanchez is taller and has an extended attain than Kepa.
Kepa is 6ft 2in, and Sanchez stands at an enormous 6ft 6in tall. The distinction has already been clear to see.
We watch Kepa constantly battle to assert crosses and solely actually having the ability to flap at them, as he as soon as once more did final evening for Actual Madrid. Kepa fully misses the straightforward punch and doesn’t even try to catch it. We grew used to seeing this on so many events at Chelsea and it will possibly usually result in a objective that ought to not have occurred, because it did for Actual Madrid towards Napoli final evening.
Photograph by Robin Jones/Getty Photos
But the one factor that Sanchez has completed completely since he arrived from Brighton in the summertime IS declare crosses. He doesn’t simply punch them both, he’s managing to catch the bulk. This has already made an enormous distinction to our backline and made us look even tighter again there.
His shot stopping has been nice and I’m satisfied that a few the saves not less than that he’s made this season would have been a objective if Kepa was within the sticks, once more, purely as a result of he simply wouldn’t have had the attain to get to them. That for me is as soon as once more, only a truth.
I don’t even assume Kepa is a foul goalkeeper. However for me, you want a tall and athletic goalkeeper within the nets when you actually need to have essentially the most quantity of security in objective, and that makes Sanchez higher than Kepa.
The one ‘flaw’ I’ve seen from Sanchez this season is he has seemingly given the ball away just a few occasions when the move has seemed straightforward, as he did as soon as towards Fulham on Monday evening.
However general, because the stats beneath show, his distribution has been superb.
Highest move success charge amongst Premier League goalkeepers this season (200+ passes):
🥇 Robert Sanchez – 87.7%
📷 Bernd Leno – 82.2%
📷 Alisson – 79.1%
📷 Mark Flekken – 78.3%
I additionally see him begin lots of our assaults now with a fast throw or move out, and he looks as if he’s very good in that division as effectively.
Sanchez can be very vocal and appears to be an excellent motivator for the remainder of the squad. I’ve seen him vocal when the workforce is within the tunnel earlier than the video games, and vocal through the video games.
When he makes a mistake as effectively, his head doesn’t drop. He appears to be mentally robust in addition to bodily.
I’ve been crying out for a goalkeeper who dominates his penalty space and now now we have one.
As I say, I’m not getting carried away and I’m staying slightly cautious on Sanchez, nevertheless it’s actually to date so good for me, and a lot better than Kepa could be.
So Actual Madrid, please purchase Kepa a pleasant new home in Spain, he’ll like it, we are going to like it, with the upmost respect.
