Just five hours after his £7.5m transfer from Aston Villa was confirmed, Emiliano Martinez was thrown straight into the starting XI against Brighton by manager Xabi Alonso. The 33-year-old goalkeeper stated he was fit and ready to play, having already trained with his new teammates prior to the public announcement.
While Martinez could do little to prevent the three goals conceded in the 4-3 thriller, his arrival highlights Chelsea's ongoing defensive vulnerabilities. With five goals conceded across their first two matches, the team's 100% record is currently being sustained by their impressive new-look attack rather than a solid backline.
Former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given praised the signing, noting Alonso's proactive approach in immediately utilizing the experienced Argentine. Alonso also expressed satisfaction with Martinez's positive impact and aura within the squad after just 48 hours at the club.
Meanwhile, previous number one Robert Sanchez has fallen to fourth in the goalkeeping pecking order and is considered available for transfer. As Chelsea prepare for an upcoming trip to face Arsenal, manager Alonso acknowledges that controlling matches and reducing goals conceded will be vital for any title ambitions.
