The UPRISING of Kepa Arrizabalaga Revuelta

Once upon a time,Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga Revuelta was relatively unknown to many football fans until his big-move to Premier league club Chelsea. 

The shotstopper formerly at La Liga side Athletic Bilbao was a very good goalkeeper,then after his record breaking £71.6m transfer to Stamford Bridge as the replacement for Thibauit Courtois; the Spaniard came into instant limelight.

Since the Premier league is the most watched and entertaining football league in the world with millions of fans watching and Chelsea football club a big football team..definitely Kepa Arrizabalaga was going to see lots of upgrade in his career.

From a relatively unknown player at Bilbao to a popular player at Chelsea. His transfer fee broke the headlines as it surpassed the one Liverpool paid AS Roma for Alisson Becker, making Kepa Arrizabalaga the most expensive goalkeeper in the world currently.

The next challenges for Kepa were if he was gonna fit in the Premier league,a big club like Chelsea and fill the shoes left by Courtois. Kepa impressively rose to the occasion. He had a decent debut EPL season and lots of outstanding performances including his first 6 clean sheets. He got better game after game.

Speaking of Courtois, the Belgium International is having a poor start for the Spanish giants; thus making Chelsea fans glad with his replacement Kepa.

Adding to Kepa’s uprising as a “top goalkeeper” is the dropping-in form of David De Gea at Manchester United which gives the Chelsea No.1 a massive opportunity at the Spanish National team. Most Spanish fans at the moment prefer Kepa in goal for Spain than De Gea.

The day Kepa seriously broke the headlines was during “Sarriball era” when he refused to be substituted at the EFL final match against Manchester City. Former Chelsea coach Sarri wanted Willy Caballero to come in at the ending stages leading to penalty shootouts cause Caballero had spent time with City which means he should know where City players shoot. But Kepa refused to be subbed. At the end of the match,City won the penalty shootouts and Kepa was the most hated person on Internet.

He was fined,benched for some games and apologized to both coach and fans, when he returned from his suspension,he made good saves and got the fans back.

Kepa has won the Europa League with Chelsea,still young and has potential to become one of best goalkeepers in the world in few years time.

Courtois is now a forgotten man at Stamford Bridge thanks to brilliant saves from Kepa Arrizabalaga. Though the Spaniard still has lots to learn from the top 3 goalies like Oblak,Ter Stegen and Alisson Becker but he definitely has all it takes to become even better.

For his national side Spain,blessed with world-class goalkeepers like Casillas,Reina,in-form De Gea..now might be the time for Kepa Arrizabalaga to announce himself to the football world and make his mark.

From being once a 3rd choice goalkeeper for both club and country to gradually becoming a commanding master in-between the sticks. Kepa is easily one of the best 10 goalkeepers in the world currently!