Ben Foster has warned Chelsea that they will need to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga as he criticised the goalkeeper’s display against Everton.
The Blues were on course for victory at Stamford Bridge, one that would have made it four wins on the bounce, but Ellis Simms struck in the 89th minute to earn the Toffees a valuable point in their fight for Premier League survival and leave the hosts frustrated.
Simms proved too strong for Kalidou Koulibaly and then saw his finish squirm through Kepa, who got a big touch on the ball but was unable to keep the shot out.
When he first took charge at Chelsea, Graham Potter insisted that he did not have plans for a first-choice goalkeeper and would instead let Kepa and Edouard Mendy battle it out, but it is the Spaniard who has taken his chance with injury keeping Mendy out of the fold since the World Cup.
He has now returned to training and is set to return to the first-team squad after the international break, and Foster believes Kepa can have no complaints should Chelsea drop him and ultimately look to replace him in the summer transfer window.
“Let’s talk about Everton’s equaliser because I think Kepa should save it,” Foster said on his YouTube channel. “A top goalkeeper saves that.
“This is a big moment, we’re in injury-time so if he saves that, it’s 2-1, three points, boom, everyone is happy. These are the fine margins but I think a top goalie has to save that.
“It’s a slightly awkward one so I’ve got a bit of sympathy but you need to make those big saves. He fell a little bit short. I don’t think Kepa is the right guy for it, full stop. I don’t think he’s the long-term solution.
“I think at the end of the season either Mendy will get fit and get back in the team or they will need to go into the market and sign somebody. They spent £70m on Kepa by the way and £25m on Mendy, that’s almost £100m on goalkeepers.”
