While Edouard Mendy remained Chelsea’s main custodian between the sticks in 2021/22, our goalkeeping understudies still had roles to fulfil with 16 appearances between them throughout the campaign.

Kepa Arrizabalaga claimed all but one of those run-outs, stepping in admirably during Mendy’s absence at the Africa Cup of Nations and performing penalty shoot-out heroics in Belfast where we won the UEFA Super Cup for the second time in our history.

There was also a debut for Marcus Bettinelli in the FA Cup third round in early January as our number three performed his duties admirably.

Shoot-out specialist

Kepa’s eventful campaign in shoot-outs started in our first game, the Super Cup match against Villarreal in which he began on the bench but was sent on in Mendy’s place in the final minute of extra-time as part of a pre-planned penalties strategy.

The Spaniard saved twice from his countrymen and was booked in a lively cameo performance, helping us to a 6-5 shoot-out win following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes. The celebrations after the final whistle, with Kepa carried on the shoulders of his team-mates, underlined his standing within the dressing room.

In his following appearance in September, Kepa registered the first of four campaign clean sheets against Tottenham as he deputised for the injured Mendy in a 3-0 league win in north London.

Three days later, his familiar shoot-out skills were on show again as he denied Marvelous Nakamba in a 4-3 win from 12 yards against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup, etching his name into the Chelsea history books by moving clear of Petr Cech with the most penalty stops by a Blues keeper in shoot-outs with seven. He eventually ended the season on eight.

Standing in and stepping up

With Mendy departing for Senegal duty in early January, Bettinelli was named in the starting 11 for the first time for our FA Cup third round match against Chesterfield as the Blues cruised to a comfortable Stamford Bridge victory.

There was no clean sheet for the Londoner on his Chelsea debut as he conceded a late consolation despite making an excellent initial save in the build-up to the goal, though he had proved himself a reliable stand-in all the same and continued to offer support to the goalkeeping group throughout the rest of the season.

Kepa played the other seven matches during Mendy’s absence and excelled, including the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final against Al-Hilal as he made two excellent saves to maintain our lead, before Thomas Tuchel’s number one returned for the decisive showdown with Palmeiras.

Wembley woes

After inspiring us to shoot-out victories over Villarreal, Aston Villa and Southampton earlier in the term, there was Wembley heartache and drama for Kepa in the Carabao Cup final.

Our well-honed plan of drawing on his expertise from 12 yards was followed once more against Liverpool but a mammoth run of 22 penalty kicks finally ended with the Spaniard blazing an effort of his own over the crossbar and into the Reds supporters.

Kepa’s final involvement of the campaign came a few days later in a win away at Luton Town in the FA Cup.

Kepa Arrizabalaga 2021/22 Chelsea stats

Appearances: 15

Starts: 13

Substituted: 0

Unused sub: 47

Minutes played: 1,333

Clean sheets: 6+1

Kepa Arrizabalaga Premier League appearances 2021/22

Kepa Arrizabalaga played four games in the Premier League for Chelsea this season, all from the start.

Kepa Arrizabalaga Champions League appearances 2021/22

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

Kepa Arrizabalaga FA Cup appearances 2021/22

Kepa Arrizabalaga played two games in the FA Cup this season.

Kepa Arrizabalaga Carabao Cup appearances 2021/22

Kepa Arrizabalaga made six appearances in the Carabao Cup this season, starting all but one.

Kepa Arrizabalaga Super Cup and Club World Cup appearances 2021/22

Kepa Arrizabalaga played one game in the UEFA Super Cup and one game in the FIFA Club World Cup this season.

Kepa Arrizabalaga clean sheets 2021/22

Kepa Arrizabalaga kept six clean sheets in all competitions this season for Chelsea, also coming on as a late extra-time substitute in our 0-0 Carabao Cup final draw with Liverpool.

Marcus Bettinelli 2021/22 Chelsea stats

Appearances: 1

Starts: 1

Substituted: 0

Unused sub: 25

Minutes played: 94

Clean sheets: 0

Marcus Bettinelli FA Cup appearances 2021/22

Marcus Bettinelli played one game in the FA Cup this season.