London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea’s clash ended 1-1 on Sunday evening. The pair shared a point each, with Chelsea climbing to third place and Arsenal now in fourth.
It was a hard-fought battle, but neither side delivered their best performance. Both clubs will be content not to have lost, yet the match highlighted a major issue for Chelsea as the international break approaches.
The goalkeeper deficit
Chelsea’s inconsistency in the goalkeeper position has persisted for several seasons. Edouard Mendy, who played a crucial role during Chelsea’s triumphant 2021 UEFA Champions League campaign, never quite reached the standards set by club legend like Petr Čech.
Kepa Arrizabalaga, now on loan at Bournemouth, faced challenges maintaining his status as Chelsea’s first-choice keeper. In his place, last season, Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic were rotated in the starting lineup. This season, Sanchez has taken the role for Premier League fixtures under Enzo Maresca, while Filip Jörgensen has managed the UEFA Conference League and domestic cup appearances.
Sanchez is capable of standout saves, as shown in the derby against Arsenal, and he even won the Premier League’s Save of the Month award last month, yet his distribution remains a cause for concern. His passes often invite danger, either by landing directly at the feet of opposing players or by being too risky and easily intercepted. His tendency to concede goals that should be routine saves was evident again on Sunday.
Conversely, Arsenal have found stability between the posts. David Raya, initially signed on loan from Brentford and expected to play second fiddle to Aaron Ramsdale, seized the starting role after debuting on September 17, 2023. Raya has justified Mikel Arteta’s trust with steady and confident performances, including his assured display against Chelsea.
Why the problem is becoming hard to ignore
Enzo Maresca has undeniably transformed Chelsea’s fate. The ‘project’ that has been so widely spoken of and judged is finally starting to take shape in a good light. With 11 games played, the team sits third in the Premier League table, only 9 points off the top spot held by Liverpool. This marks a significant improvement compared to this time last season when Chelsea were in tenth place.
The battle for third place in the Premier League is incredibly tight, with Chelsea currently holding the spot on 19 points, tied with Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, and Brighton. Fulham, Newcastle, and Aston Villa are just one point behind, while Tottenham are only three points adrift. With so many teams close behind, Chelsea will need to stay sharp and consistent to retain their position in the top four. Robert Sánchez’s performances will be key to ensuring they don’t slip in the standings amid the fierce competition.
There have been matches where Chelsea’s overall performance has warranted clean sheets, but those opportunities have slipped away. Defensive lapses, such as Levi Colwill’s struggles against Arsenal, have contributed to dropped points. Yet, there have also been moments when every outfield player has given their all, only for Sanchez to make costly errors that have undermined the team’s hard work.
While he has yet to directly cause a loss, Sanchez’s current trend hints that it may only be a matter of time before that changes.
Maresca might need to consider giving Jörgensen a chance in Premier League action and reassessing Chelsea’s options between the posts. The January transfer window could also be an opportunity for the club to strengthen this critical position.
Chelsea face a relatively straightforward run of fixtures after the international break. The question remains: will Robert Sanchez’s performances continue to pose a risk to the Blues’ pursuit of consistent wins?