When Chelsea met Atletic Bilbao’s asking price for Kepa Arrizabalaga in August 2018, they made the Spaniard the world’s most expensive shot-stopper. The club hoped this would resolve any goalkeeping problems triggered by Thibault Courtois’s exit to Real Madrid, but two years later, the deal now looks like an expensive mistake.
Frank Lampard‘s Goalkeeping Conundrum With Kepa Arrizabalaga
Why Lampard Needs a New Goalkeeper
During Maurizio Sarri’s eventful tenure at Stamford Bridge, the most pressing concerns relating to their first choice goalkeeper appeared to be disciplinary in nature. After all, who could forget Kepa’s defiance of his manager’s orders in last season’s Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester City?
Under Frank Lampard, though, persistent technical flaws are showing no signs of disappearing. Chelsea’s number one is repeatedly costing his side as they chase Champions League football.
For instance, Kepa’s Premier League save percentage from shots outside the box stands at around 70% so far this season. Whilst not world-beating, it is a similar record to that of Manchester City’s Ederson. From shots coming from inside the box, however, Kepa’s save percentage hovers at around the 50% mark, a startling drop.
Poor Technique
So what is the reason for this? It would be easy to argue it is simply because shots from inside the box are usually harder to save than shots coming in from distance. However, this does not tell the whole story regarding Kepa.
Instead, Kepa’s frequent inability to make reflex saves can be explained within his questionable technique. Every time he readies himself to make a save, Chelsea’s goalkeeper inexplicably positions his hands slightly behind his back. He must feel that doing so will help him to cover more ground if he needs to.
This leads to trouble in relation to making close-range saves. By the time Kepa’s hands are no longer behind him, the ball often already is. It means the goalkeeper can do nothing to prevent it from finding the net. Take last season’s FA Cup run for example; Chelsea bowed out in the fifth round at the hands of Manchester United. In the game, Kepa failed to stop a header from Paul Pogba squirming past him. Why? Because he did not propel his hands forward quickly enough to get enough contact on the ball.
Similarly, in the Premier League this January, Isaac Hayden’s injury-time header gave Newcastle all three points against Chelsea. Kepa got a hand to it but could not keep it out. While neither header went in as a result of a goalkeeping ‘error’ per se, a stronger technique would have allowed Kepa to have prevented both goals.
All Problems Need Addressing
The timing of those matches is significant. One took place last season and the other this January. This tells us that Kepa has had plenty of time to improve on his technique.
It seems he has not progressed as his manager might have expected.
Frank Lampard has already acted quickly and decisively in the transfer market as he seeks to improve his squad, signing attacking duo Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner ahead of next season. Perhaps it is time he looked elsewhere for a new number one too. And with rumours gathering pace that Chelsea are looking at Ajax’s André Onana and Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak, time may be running out for Kepa to justify his hefty price tag.
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