Sanchez vs Kepa: Who’s Chelsea’s No.1 goalkeeper?

Chelsea Football Club have signed Brighton and Hove Albion on goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, sparking a debate over west London’s No.1 choice between the sticks.

The over 6-foot-5 ‘keeper has competed in over 85 Premier League games, conceding 99 goals while amassing 27 clean sheets. He was with the Seagulls since age 15. But he began to fall out of favor as first-choice towards the back end of last season for Jason Steele. Roberto De Zerbi deployed the former Middlesbrough youth player in 12 league contests between April until the end of the campaign while the Spanish international managed to appear in just one.

With Édouard Mendy out the door already this summer, Mauricio Pochettino needed someone to slot in as a reliable No.2 with experience as a starter. Sanchez adds that competition for the club’s current No.1, Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is three years older than the former Seagull. The latter’s sheer height and ability to command his box as well as coming out for crosses make him an exciting player adding further quality at Stamford Bridge.

During the 2021-2022 Premier League campaign, Sanchez was in the 98th percentile in crosses stopped; Kepa currently sits in the 32nd percentile among goalkeepers in that category. When it comes to distribution, Kepa completed 80 percent of his passes in the Premier League last season. While in 21-22, Sanchez converted just 67% of his attempted passes.

At the price that the west London outfit paid, £25m, it seems like the outfit believe there shall be true competition between these two stop-stoppers. Or it is just some extra cash and incentive so the Moisés Caicedo deal could be less expensive? Given that Kepa has participated in the entire pre-season over in the United States, it should go without saying that he is going to be between the stick against Liverpool. On paper, and with the eye, the former Atletico Madrid man is just a better goalkeeper at this moment in time. With the Blues trying to close the deal for defensive midfielder Caicedo, this just feels like a manoeuvre that both reunites Sanchez with goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts whilst taking another step closer to signing the player the club desperately seeks.

For now, Kepa Arrizabalaga is Chelsea’s No.1 with Robert Sanchez serving as a serviceable back up

For some reason, there is an agenda from Blues fans against current Chelsea No.1. Sanchez is a fine addition to a team that had to sign a stopper at some point in this window. He’ll be there for cup competitions, and some league games here and there, but this signing should in no way impact Kepa’s spot on the team. During a chaotic campaign, the 28-year-old was between the sticks for a side that conceded just 47 goals, less than or equal to four teams in the 2022-2023 EPL top-ten.

Pochettino seems to trust Kepa, and that goes a long way. He is not the best of the best in the English top-flight, but with a defense that the capital club have assembled, he does not have to be. Sure, there will be mistakes from time to time, but all in all, the older of the two GKs is the one that should be first-choice at the moment. If Sanchez gets hot, that’s a win. Outside of that, this is a signing that provides nothing more than depth at a position that was thin.