Graham Potter has confirmed that Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga is unavailable to play against Arsenal this weekend.
Potter has shared a significant piece of team news ahead of Sunday’s London derby between Chelsea and Arsenal in the Premier League.
The Blues welcome their rivals to Stamford Bridge in a few days and currently sit 10 points behind them in the league table.
Chelsea are sixth in the division standings following last weekend’s hammering at Brighton, so will be desperate for a couple of positive league results before the break for the World Cup.
As for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, they are the frontrunners at the top of the pile with an eye-catching 31 points from just 12 games.
Kepa Arrizabalaga unavailable against Arsenal
Kepa, who’s been the first-choice goalkeeper since Potter was appointed as head coach, will miss the weekend’s crunch league match.
The 28-year-old was forced off at half-time against Brighton with a foot injury. He was absent from the match day squad in last night’s 2-1 victory against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, too.
Speaking to BT Sport, Potter has confirmed Kepa won’t be picked against Arsenal: “No he won’t be OK for Sunday. It’s only precautionary [to have the crutches] to keep the weight off it, it’s the bottom of his foot. He’s progressing well but won’t be available for Sunday.”
It’s a massive shame Kepa has been forced onto the sidelines at a time he was playing some of his best football in Chelsea colours.
Thankfully, it doesn’t sound like the Spanish shot-stopper’s injury is too bad.
Edouard Mendy returned to the starting line-up against Dinamo Zagreb, so you’d expect him to play again on the weekend.
For 30-year-old Mendy, it’s the kind of big pressured game against Arsenal where he can go a long way to winning back his starting position in-between the sticks with a top performance.
Kepa recently explained how his confidence has been restored under a new manager. There is a window of opportunity for his teammate now, though.
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