Prior to Edouard Mendy’s arrival in late September, goal-guarding duties had been shared evenly between Kepa Arrizabalaga and Willy Caballero at the start of our 2020/21 campaign.

The duo each started twice in our opening four matches, Kepa for the first two in the Premier League at Brighton and at home to Liverpool, Caballero for our Carabao Cup demolition of Barnsley and the 3-3 draw away at West Brom.

Those were the only appearances of the season for Caballero, who nonetheless played an important role as our third-choice keeper and an experienced member of the dressing room, leading Thomas Tuchel to praise his impact in training and from the sidelines.

Kepa’s FA Cup role

Our Spanish keeper played every minute in the FA Cup this term, from the third round all the way through to the final, although it was disappointment for the Blues again at Wembley as Youri Tielemans found the top corner with a brilliant strike to settle a tight contest.

Up to that point, Arrizabalaga had conceded just once in five matches in the 2020/21 competition, making an important reaction save to keep us ahead against Luton Town in the fourth round and a point-blank stop in the following match with the score locked at 0-0 against Barnsley.

The 26-year-old’s performance at Oakwell four days later in the Premier League against Newcastle, where his best save of the campaign had Joe Willock’s downward header expertly tipped round the post. He started back-to-back games again in April and May, with Tuchel emphasising the importance of regular game time.

His 100th Chelsea appearance had come at the start of our FA Cup run as he kept a clean sheet in the third round against Morecambe.

Kepa Arrizabalaga 2020/21 Chelsea stats

Appearances: 14

Starts: 13

Substituted: 0

Unused sub: 39

Minutes played: 1,389

Clean sheets: 6

Willy Caballero 2020/21 Chelsea stats

Appearances: 2

Starts: 2

Substituted: 0

Unused sub: 24

Minutes played: 188

Clean sheets: 1

Kepa Arrizabalaga Premier League appearances 2020/21

Kepa Arrizabalaga played seven games in the Premier League for Chelsea this season, coming off the bench for one of them.

Kepa Arrizabalaga Champions League appearances 2020/21

Kepa Arrizabalaga made one appearance in the Champions League this season.

Kepa Arrizabalaga FA Cup appearances 2020/21

Kepa Arrizabalaga played six games in the FA Cup this season, all from the start.

Kepa Arrizabalaga Carabao Cup appearances 2020/21

Kepa Arrizabalaga did not play in the Carabao Cup this season.

Kepa Arrizabalaga clean sheets 2020/21

Kepa Arrizabalaga kept six clean sheets this season, four in the FA Cup and two in the Premier League.

Willy Caballero Premier League appearances 2020/21

Willy Caballero played one game in the Premier League for Chelsea this season.

Willy Caballero Champions League appearances 2020/21

Willy Caballero did not play in the Champions League this season.

Willy Caballero FA Cup appearances 2020/21

Willy Caballero did not play in the FA Cup this season.

Willy Caballero Carabao Cup appearances 2020/21

Willy Caballero made one appearance in the Carabao Cup this season.

Willy Caballero clean sheets 2020/21

Willy Caballero kept one clean sheet this season, which came in the Carabao Cup.