Kepa Arrizabalaga keeps Chelsea form alive with fifth clean sheet

Kepa Arrizabalaga continued his Chelsea resurgence on Wednesday. While The Blues could only muster a 0-0 draw against Brentford, the Spanish goalkeeper was once again excellent. It was his fifth consecutive clean sheet in all competitions for the club.

Prior to the Brentford match, head coach Graham Potter hailed his keeper’s perseverance. “It’s a nice example that it doesn’t always go your way, and you have to suffer in life sometimes, it’s not always perfect,” Potter said in a press conference.

“I’ve been really impressed with his character and personality, he’s very professional, understands the game really well, takes responsibility. So it’s nice when those type of people get the rewards, which is a reward for their hard work and effort.”

Kepa Arrizabala makes his comeback at Chelsea

Kepa previously lost his number one spot between the sticks to Edouard Mendy. The Spanish keeper arrived at Chelsea from Athletic Club for $88 million in 2018, which is a worldwide transfer record in his position. Kepa, however, failed to impress and the Blues bought Mendy just two years later.

Mendy quickly earned the No. 1 spot after arriving from French club Rennes. The Senegal international has established himself as one of the better keepers in the Premier League. In fact, UEFA named Mendy in the 2020/21 Champions League Team of the Year as Chelsea won the competition. That same year, Mendy won FIFA’s Best Goalkeeper award.

Nevertheless, Potter picked Kepa for every match that he has been in charge of with the west London club. And the now 28-year-old shot-stopper has performed exceptionally well. Of the six games that he has started in October, Kepa has only allowed one goal. The goal also happened to come in the opening match of the month.

No one knows how long Kepa stays in the starting XI. Potter does not want to tinker with the goalkeeping position for now.

PHOTO: IMAGO / UK Sports Pics Ltd