Three big questions: Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga and the way forward
By Travis Tyler
2. If the Blues get a better defense, does Arrizabalaga deserve a chance behind them?
Thibaut Courtois knew the situation well as he began to struggle in his later years at Chelsea. The same was true for Petr Cech at Arsenal. If a team has better defenders, can a bad goal keeper look good? Or does a bad goal keeper make defenders look bad?
It is the chicken or the egg situation of conceding goals. A better defense may leave Arrizabalaga less exposed, but a better keeper may cover for the defensive mistakes better. The real question is who Chelsea blames.
The Blues are looking to reinforce their defense next season, so should the Spanish keeper get the chance behind a new defense to show if it is him or them?
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The stats would say no but that is why stats are not the be all end all. There are plenty of times when Arrizabalaga is left high and dry by those in front of him. If any of those small chances is the result of a catastrophic defensive error, it cannot really be blamed on the keeper for failing to be super human.
The Blues are going to reinforce regardless next season, but knowing who to blame and who not is half the battle. There is at least a case for Arrizabalaga to make, though he probably will not get a chance to. Regardless, in the same way Chelsea is prioritizing attackers who can cut sides open, it may be worth considering prioritizing defense or the man between the sticks and seeing how it goes for a season.