FRANK Lampard chose to blame his forwards for Chelsea’s disappointing defeat away to Newcastle United on Saturday, remarking “if you don’t score you are always liable for a sucker punch and we got it.” The sucker punch he referred to was the stoppage time goal scored by Isaac Hayden and it was certainly true that Chelsea’s wastefulness in front of goal contributed to their downfall at St James’ Park. The finger of blame probably also should have been pointed at the man who should have stopped Hayden’s header.
While Kepa Arrizabalaga’s failed attempt to push the ball around the post was no howler, it provided another illustration of how the Spanish goalkeeper remains a soft touch. This certainly wasn’t the first time that Kepa has been questionable in his efforts to keep out a goal this season. Indeed, the world’s most expensive shot-stopper has become a problem for Chelsea.
It’s the last thing they need at this stage of their development under Lampard. Chelsea have struggled enough for defensive solidity without Kepa further unsettling them at the back. They need a steadying influence between the posts, someone who sets the tone for the defenders in front of him. There’s little suggestion that Kepa is that figure, or will be that figure in the near future, for the Blues.
Of course, it’s not unusual for modern goalkeepers to be flawed. So much is now asked of them with the ball at their feet that even the best are not beyond the occasional blunder. But the problem with Kepa is that it’s his core ability as a goalkeeper, rather than a sweeper keeper, that warrants examination.
Unreal how Chelsea downgraded from Courtois to Kepa. Say what you want about Thibaut, sure he had a poor season last year but look at him now, back to being one of the best keepers in the world. Meanwhile Kepa ranks 127th among 132 goalkeepers in Europe for save percentage.
— TR (@TacticalRole) January 18, 2020
Kepa’s save percentage from shots inside the box is abysmal – just 51%. For context, Alisson Becker has saved 70.6% of shots he has faced over the 2019/20 campaign to date with Ederson saving 66%. In fact, Kepa’s 51% ranks him last among the Premier League’s first choice goalkeepers this season. That is quite remarkable for a goalkeeper who cost as much as the Spaniard.
Using the measure of Expected Goals, Kepa’s struggles are even more stark with the Spaniard conceding nearly eight goals (7.79) more than expected this season. David De Gea, whose troubles have been scrutinised to a greater degree, has conceded just 2.65 more goals than expected. This yardstick actually ranks Kepa as the worst performing goalkeeper in the Premier League this season.
Chelsea’s poor defensive record has undermined any progress they have made this season and Kepa has been a major source of vulnerability. At 25, he is still young for a goalkeeper, but the Stamford Bridge club are entitled to feel they should be getting more from a player they paid a club £72 million for.
“I will always defend all the players and if there are individual errors then players are the first ones to put their hands up and goalkeepers should be as well,” Lampard said after the defeat to Newcastle United, defending his goalkeeper. “It is an isolated and difficult job because the spotlight is on you individually. At times he has made good saves for us this season and at times he'll say he wants to do better. He is still relatively young as a goalkeeper, he wants to improve, as he should do. He can improve as much as all the team and we can improve.”
What if Kepa is hindering the improvement of others around him, though? How much longer can Lampard stand by a player who has more than once this season been the one to blame for dropped points? Chelsea expected Kepa to join the Premier League’s ranks of super-goalkeepers, but so far his performances have only exposed just how far short of that level he truly is.
