Kepa Is Proving Dominant In The Penalty Saving Department With His Fourth Stop In This Season Alone

Kepa Arrizabalaga has proven himself as Chelsea’s greatest secret weapon. Edouard Mendy is Chelsea’s No. 1 goalkeeper, but Blues fans wouldn’t want anyone else in goal for a shootout than Kepa. How many penalty saves does Kepa have for Chelsea you might ask?

The Spaniard denied Theo Walcott on Tuesday in a penalty shootout during a Carabao Cup clash to bring his number of penalties saved with Chelsea to 10 (eight during shootouts, two during regular time). Kepa is Chelsea’s all-time leader in shootout saves passing Petr Cech this season.

Kepa in his element. pic.twitter.com/J4QMYcrmxh

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 27, 2021

Kepa & @PetrCech penalty shootout saves. pic.twitter.com/w8AktzDyZk

— Frank Khalid (@FrankKhalidUK) October 27, 2021

The most penalty shoot-out saves in Chelsea's history:

1⃣ - Ross Turnbull
1⃣ - Hilário
1⃣ - Willy Caballero
2⃣ - Eddie Niedzwiecki
2⃣ - Ed De Goey
4⃣ - Kevin Hitchcock
6⃣ - Petr Čech

8⃣ - Kepa Arrizabalaga #CFC pic.twitter.com/lXZ5ETQbfj

— bet365 (@bet365) October 26, 2021

In the 2021-22 season Kepa has already pulled off four penalty saves. He was brought in as a last-minute substitute against Villareal in the UEFA Super Cup, where he made two vital stops to win the game. 

The 27-year-old has only made four appearances this season. He made one save each in the shootouts against Aston Villa and Southampton in Carabao Cup action.

Here is a timeline of Kepa’s penalty saves in a Chelsea shirt.

• Oct. 26, 2021: Penalty shootout save vs. Southampton in Carabao Cup Round of 16
• Sept. 22, 2021: Penalty shootout save vs. Aston Villa in Carabao Cup Third Round
• Aug. 11, 2021: Two penalty shootout saves vs. Villareal in UEFA Super Cup
• Nov. 27, 2019: Penalty save vs. Valencia in Champions League Group Stage
• May 9, 2019: Two penalty shootout saves vs. Eintracht Frankfurt in Europa League Semifinal
• March 17, 2019: Penalty save vs. Everton in Premier League
• Feb. 24, 2019: Penalty shootout save vs. Manchester City in Carabao Cup Final
• Jan. 24, 2019: Penalty shootout save vs. Tottenham in Carabao Cup Semifinal

The most expensive goalkeeper in the world also recorded two penalty saves with Athletic Bilbao in 2017 and 2018. For now Kepa will be on Chelsea’s bench, but when Mendy departs for the Africa Cup of Nations in January, the penalty stopper maestro will receive the green light.