Robert Sanchez Faces Growing Pressure After Arsenal Goal Mistake
Robert Sanchez’s performance in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw against Arsenal has come under scrutiny once again, especially following his role in conceding the opening goal to Gabriel Martinelli.
Sanchez was criticized by goalkeeping expert David Preece, who pointed out that the goalkeeper left a gap at his near post, allowing Martinelli to score with a shot from a tight angle.
Preece noted that although Martinelli’s ability to disguise his shot made it difficult to read, Sanchez should have been tighter on the near post to avoid giving the Brazilian the opportunity.
Great goal by Martinelli against Chelsea pic.twitter.com/8S0zXS9InJ
— Irteza Gunner (@ArsenalFan51965) November 11, 2024
This follows a pattern of mixed performances for Sanchez since becoming Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper under Enzo Maresca, despite a challenging start to the season.
His distribution and ability to play out from the back have received praise from Maresca, who continues to back him as the No.1. However, Sanchez has made a series of high-profile errors, particularly in shot-stopping, which have led some supporters to call for a change in goalkeeping personnel, suggesting that Filip Jorgensen might be a better option.
In this particular match, while Sanchez’s positioning on Martinelli’s goal was a key moment of criticism, Chelsea managed to level the score through Pedro Neto’s stunning strike.
The point lifted Chelsea to third in the Premier League table, and although the draw with Arsenal was not ideal, it keeps them in a solid position for the upcoming challenges.
Despite the ongoing debate around Sanchez’s performances, Maresca remains supportive of the goalkeeper, emphasizing that mistakes are part of the game and not solely Sanchez’s fault.
Robert Sanchez Faces Growing Pressure After Arsenal Goal Mistake
