Holy and sinful! Chelsea’s £ 72 million back-up, Kepa Arrizabalaga, frustrates fans and analysts with ANOTHER howl to give Luton Town a lifeline for the FA Cup … then makes an impressive one-handed save to stop the Hatters to tie
- Kepa Arrizabalaga was guilty of another error in Chelsea’s clash with Luton
- The £ 72 million goalkeeper allowed Jordan Clark’s momentum to pass him
- Experts questioned Frank Lampard’s intentions to play him at halftime
- Kepa redeemed himself in style after the break with an incredible one-handed stop
Kepa Arrizabalaga wasted his chance back in the spotlight after the Chelsea goalkeeper made another horrible mistake in his team’s FA Cup clash with Luton.
The 26-year-old, who joined the club from Athletic Bilbao for a £ 72 million eye-watering fee in 2018, was put back on the shooting line at Stamford Bridge and failed the test.
The mistake even led experts to question whether Frank Lampard started the striker in an attempt to find another club – although Kepa soon regained his reputation with an impressive second-half defense. It was vital when the Blues won the game 3-1 to advance to the fifth round.
Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga made another mistake in the FA Cup clash with Luton
In the first half, Luton, on the championship side, threw the ball to the left and quickly caught Jordan Clark from a close angle at the half-hour mark.
His shot was fired directly at Kepa, but the Spanish international’s poor positioning and weak pulse sent the ball past him and into the net.
An outstretched right hand found the shot – but it was the strength of the effort that saw Kepa being defeated questionably once again.
The low fire stopper was guilty of letting Jordan Clark’s powerful blow writhe for him
Pundit Danny Murphy insisted that Kepa should have handled Clark’s attempt better – and questioned Chief Lampard’s intentions in selecting him.
“He should have kept it, no doubt,” he said. ‘Great for Luton to return to the game, but the goalkeeper must do better.
– It’s very frequent with him. We were talking during the game, I don’t think Frank wants to play with him. It is not hit with any speed.
‘Obviously he will not play in the next games. Is he playing with him to put him in the window? If he is and is making mistakes … ‘
Experts questioned whether Frank Lampard gave Kepa an opportunity to put him on display
Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink also targeted Kepa and highlighted the difference between him and his first division peers.
He said, ‘He needs to save this. He sees enough of the ball and the player who is going to hit the ball.
‘It definitely doesn’t help. Every time he goes for the goal for Chelsea, he is under pressure because of how he is doing and what happened last year.
‘If you look at the other goalkeepers in the league at the top end, they would save that. That’s where it is, that’s the problem.
Kepa managed to redeem himself impressively after deflecting Harry Cornick’s effort
The £ 72 million man was also found in good shape by keeping Tom Lockyer’s nudge out
Kepa managed to redeem himself, however, after an impressive display after the break.
With Chelsea barely leading after a key from Tammy Abraham, Luton pushed down the other end in search of a leveler.
Harry Cornick was launched from the left side of the area and fired a powerful shot towards the goal.
The shot was brilliantly saved by Kepa in order to preserve the hosts’ advantage.