Robert Sanchez verdict given as pressure grows on Chelsea keeper after Arsenal goal

There has been plenty said - and people are continuing to talk - about Robert Sanchez this season.

Last term, Sanchez, signed for around £25million in August 2023, lost his place in the first-team to Djordje Petrovic. However, when Enzo Maresca took over from Mauricio Pochettino in the summer, it was clear from very early on that the Italian fancied Sanchez to be his No.1 goalkeeper.

And so it has proved in the early stages of the 2024/25 campaign. His goalkeeping has been under the spotlight, however, with a string of costly mistakes. Likewise, his distribution has led to many supporters calling for the 26-year-old to be dropped in place of summer signing Filip Jorgensen.

READ MORE:Chelsea and Enzo Maresca handed fresh injury blow after Arsenal clash

READ MORE:Chelsea have nine players set for extra training time with Enzo Maresca

"Yes [Sanchez made mistakes] but he also did so many good things," Maresca said last month on his goalkeeper. "At the end, it is football. I ask Robert to do that [play the ball out from the back]."

The Italian continued: "The moment he stops doing that, he is not going to play. If Robert makes a mistake, it's not Robert's problem, it is my mistake because I asked that from Robert.

"I am very happy with Robert and the way he is playing, building from the back. All the goal kicks we have and he passes the ball to Noni [Madueke], and Pedro [Neto], that kind of ball that gives us many times chances to attack. Sometimes you make mistakes but it is not going to change the way we are going to play."

Over the weekend, it was not his distribution ability that came under fire, but instead his shot-stopping. Arsenal went ahead on the hour-mark at Stamford Bridge through Gabriel Martinelli.

The Brazilian winger was found unmarked inside the box after a glorious pass from Martin Odegaard. Martinelli opened up his body as if he was going to shoot in the far corner but instead fired the ball between Sanchez and the goalkeeper's near post to give the Gunners the lead.

David Preece, a former goalkeeper and now goalkeeping coach for Mumbai City FC, took to X to discuss the Martinelli goal and how Sanchez should have done better. In a post that includes a snapshot of the goal, Preece wrote: "From such an acute angle I still think he [Sanchez] leaves a window open at the near post but you're right about Martinelli, once he opens up his body shape, he can disguise his finish."

Fortunately for Chelsea and Sanchez, the home side went onto find an equaliser. Ten minutes after Martinelli's opener, Pedro Neto struck home from 25 yards out in what was his first Premier League goal for the club.

The point means Chelsea climb up to third-place in the Premier League table. The Blues are four points off Manchester City in second and nine from Liverpool at the summit of the division but Maresca's men do lead the 'best of the rest' in the table going into the final international break of 2024.