According to the Express, renowned football expert, Paul Merson has stated that new Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has a long way to go to establish himself as a world-class custodian. The 23-year-old player started his first match of the new Premier League campaign and kept a clean sheet against Huddersfield Town, which the Blues won by 3-0.
The young Spaniard came into the team as a replacement for Thibaut Courtois, who left for Real Madrid. He has a lot of potentials and has represented the Spanish national side once already and was picked up as the second choice behind David Da Gea for the World Cup campaign in Russia, which ended in disappointment for La Roja.
The former Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper, who represented his old club on 53 occasions in the last two seasons in the La Liga and played an important role in their lineup, was notched up by Chelsea, who shelled out a staggering £71.6m to bring the Spanish custodian to Stamford Bridge.
However, Paul Merson, who is known as one of the best football pundits in England, is not completely convinced with the 23-year-old goalkeeper. According to him, the player is not “world class” as of now and it will take him some time to become so. This was what he had to say about Arrizabalaga,
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“If they buy one of the other goalies (they were linked with) and they make mistakes like they do and can make, you’re looking at Christmas at spending another £30m on another goalie.
“They’ve just gone ‘right, this is our goalie for at least the next five years’.
“The only problem I have is I’ve never seen a world-class goalie at 23, ever.”
