The clash of London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea ended 1-1 on Sunday evening. The pair share one point each, with Chelsea moving up to third and Arsenal now in fourth.

It was a tough battle, but neither side put in their best performance. Both clubs would be satisfied if they didn’t lose, but this match is a big problem for Chelsea ahead of the international break.

Goalkeeper deficit

Chelsea’s inconsistency in the goalkeeping position persisted for several seasons. Edouard Mendy, who played a crucial role during Chelsea’s 2021 UEFA Champions League triumph, never reached the standards set by club legends such as Petr Čech.

Kepa Arrizabalaga, currently on loan at Bournemouth, faces a challenge in maintaining his status as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper. Instead, last season Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic rotated in the starting lineup. This season, Sanchez has taken over the role for Premier League games under Enzo Maresca, while Filip Jörgensen has managed appearances in the UEFA Conference League and domestic cups.

Sanchez is capable of making incredible saves, as demonstrated in the derby against Arsenal, and he even won the Premier League’s Save of the Month award last month, but his distribution is still a cause for concern. His passes often invite danger, either landing right at the feet of opposing players, or being too risky and easily intercepted. His tendency to concede goals that should be routine saves was again evident on Sunday.

Instead, Arsenal have found stability in goal. David Raya, originally on loan from Brentford and expected to be the second signing after Aaron Ramsdale, takes the lead role after making his debut on 17 September 2023. Raya has justified Mikel Arteta’s confidence with steady and confident performances, including his convincing performance against Chelsea.

Why this problem has become difficult to ignore

Enzo Maresca has undeniably changed Chelsea’s fortunes. This ‘project’ that has been widely discussed and assessed is finally starting to show good results. With 11 matches played, the team sits third in the Premier League standings, just 9 points behind the top spot held by Liverpool. This is a significant improvement compared to last season when Chelsea was ranked tenth.

The battle for third place in the Premier League is tight, with Chelsea currently holding top spot with 19 points, the same as Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Brighton. Fulham, Newcastle and Aston Villa are only one point behind, while Tottenham are only three points behind. With so many teams behind, Chelsea must remain sharp and consistent to maintain their position in the top four. Robert Sánchez’s performance will be key to ensuring they don’t slip down the table amid tough competition.

There have been several matches where Chelsea’s overall performance guaranteed a clean sheet, only for those opportunities to slip away. Defensive failures, such as Levi Colwill’s struggles against Arsenal, contributed to points being lost. However, there are also times when every player has given their all, but Sanchez actually makes costly mistakes that ruin the team’s hard work.

While he hasn’t directly caused any damage yet, Sanchez’s current trends suggest that it may only be a matter of time before that changes.

Maresca may need to consider giving Jörgensen a chance in the Premier League and reassess Chelsea’s options in goal. The January transfer window could also be an opportunity for the club to strengthen this critical position.

Chelsea face a relatively easy game after the international break. The question remains: will Robert Sanchez’s form continue to pose a risk to the Blues’ quest for consistent wins?