Spain coach Luis Enrique has encouraged goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to rise to the challenge of being usurped as Chelsea’s number one and told him to prove his talent and ability for the national team.
Kepa became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper when he switched from Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea in 2018 for 71mn pounds but he has struggled to adapt to English football and has recently been dropped by coach Frank Lampard.
Chelsea signed Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy for around 22mn pounds last month to compete with Kepa, who was dropped after giving away a goal in his side’s first Premier League match of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion and after a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Kepa also lost his place in the Spain team to David de Gea last month but is expected to start in Wednesday’s friendly against Portugal, ahead of his side’s UEFA Nations League fixtures against Switzerland and Ukraine.
“Kepa is not in a nice situation, but it is not the end of the world,” Luis Enrique told a news conference yesterday.
“It’s the ideal moment for him to rise again, for us to see what Kepa is made of. What he is going through at Chelsea now is something that happens to all players throughout their careers.”
Kepa admitted he has enjoyed better moments in his career but said he was not suffering from any lack of confidence and had no immediate plans to leave Chelsea.
“I’m feeling good, strong and confident. Perhaps it’s not the situation I dreamed of or hoped for, but we all have to go through moments like this. I’m confident I can turn things around and am willing to work hard to do that,” he said.
“Every player wants to play and so do I, but right now I’m focusing on each day and right now that means focusing on the Spain team.
“It’s very hard in football to think about the medium or long term. Right now I’m only thinking about these three games with Spain.”
Merson backs Partey
The 45mn pounds Arsenal shelled out for midfielder Thomas Partey on transfer deadline day could prove to be a bargain, former Gunners forward Paul Merson has said.
Merson added that the 27-year-old Ghanaian, who arrived from Atletico Madrid, would bring discipline and quality to the side.
“I think Thomas Partey is a top drawer player. I nearly fell off my chair with 45 mn pounds, I don’t think that’s a lot of money at all for the quality of player,” Merson, who played for Arsenal between 1985-97, told Sky Sports.
“One thing he brings as well is discipline. Atletico Madrid are probably one of the most disciplined teams in Europe and he will do that.
“He’s not a midfielder that goes running all over the place... I think he will be a great signing.”
Arsenal have also signed Willian, Pablo Mari, Cedric Soares, Gabriel Magalhaes and Dani Ceballos as they bid to improve on their eighth-placed finish last season.
“I think what (manager) Mikel Arteta is doing, he’s trying to get rid of the players who aren’t involved, he doesn’t want them hanging around and he wants them out,” Merson added.
“Fair play, I like what Arsenal are doing.”
Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
