Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Potential new Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez ranks far higher in one key statistic than current Blue Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea have been linked with signing Martinez after being offered his services at this late stage of the transfer window by Aston Villa.
The news comes at the worst possible time for Sanchez, who endured a terrible start to the Premier League season against Fulham on Monday.
Robert Sanchez's errors leading to goal
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Emi Martinez is twice as good at Robert Sanchez at saving penalties
Plenty believe Martinez will be a significant upgrade on the Spaniard, with Chelsea fans even mentioning his name when we asked them who they would like in goal this season.
One part of the game the World Cup winner has made a name for himself in is saving penalties. He stole the headlines in the 2022 tournament by saving three spot kicks throughout their winning campaign.
Emiliano Martinez (L) of Argentina makes a save on Nico
Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images
In the Premier League, Martinez has saved nine of the 43 penalties that have come his way, with around a 21% success rate.
As for Sanchez, he has kept out just four of the 39 he has faced, at a rate of just over 10%.
Given Chelsea’s woeful discipline record last season, having a goalkeeper who has a genuine chance at keeping out any penalty he faces would have been a nice safety net for the club to have.
Blues supporters have ultimately grown tired of the errors from their current number one, as well as the constant shifts of momentum which happen in games which seem to come directly from him.
Chelsea could well have been out of sight in the first 15 minutes against Fulham on Monday, however were forced to hold on and could easily have dropped points as a result of their goalkeeper.
The signing of Martinez looks the perfect stop-gap until Mike Penders is ready to take the number one shirt on a regular basis.
There is plenty of excitement about the young Belgian, although looks to be a reluctance to throw him straight into the side.