Chelsea fans were quick to turn on Robert Sanchez after the Blues goalkeeper was involved in a calamitous attempt a shot-stopping as Arsenal claimed their second goal at Stamford Bridge.
Having endured a rocky time at Stamford Bridge since his move from Brighton, the Spaniard had been enjoying a stronger period between the sticks this season.
Sanchez was even named PFA Players’ Player of the Month for November after keeping four clean sheets in six games across all competitions.
But the goalkeeper could rely on none of his recent strong form in the second-half of the first leg of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup semi-final against their London rivals, with Sanchez failing to stop a sliding pass from Ben White across the front of goal – that was quickly buried by Viktor Gyokeres.
Former Arsenal forward Alan Smith was the first to voice his surprise at the limpness of Sanchez’s attempt on commentary duty, noting that Sanchez ‘doesn’t come out of it favourably.’
‘It goes through two hands,’ Smith explained on the replay. ‘Like a bar of soap from Sanchez that.’
Robert Sanchez was left watching agape as Viktor Gyokeres scored Arsenal’s second goal
The goalkeeper had been enjoying an uptick in form this season but was adrift against the Blues’ London rivals
And social media commenters were in agreement, with one suggesting that he was ‘Arsenal’s best player so far.’
Another added: ‘Man oh man when Sanchez is bad he’s really bad’.
Bookmakers Paddy Power even weighed in, with their social media admin writing: ‘Fair play to Robert Sanchez, he has been absolutely IMMENSE for Arsenal tonight’.
Sanchez was also deemed to be at fault for White’s opening goal, which saw Chelsea unzipped via one of the Gunners’ notorious set pieces.
Sanchez appeared to get a glove to Declan Rice’s corner delivery, but only pushed it into the path of the defender’s head, which connected to find the back of the net.
‘Sanchez is an embarrassment to this club,’ One Chelsea fan stressed. ‘He’s cost us 2 goals tonight. Chelsea urgently needs to buy an elite keeper this summer.’
Others were quick to suggest that his dip in form was in part due to the tumult at his club.
New manager Liam Rosenior oversees his first Carabao Cup tie on Wednesday, following the New Year’s Day departure of former head coach Enzo Maresca.
‘Maresca took Prime Bob Sanchez with him,’ one fan said.
Another continued in the same vein: ‘Sanchez did a factory reset when Maresca left.’
