08 January 2023 , 18:00
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Gary Lineker labelled Kepa Arrizabalaga the "pound shop Emi Martinez" after the Chelsea goalkeeper was left with egg on his face in Sunday's FA Cup clash against Manchester City.
Kepa, 28, started the third-round tie at the Etihad Stadium and conceded three goals in the first half, with Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden finding the back of the net. Alvarez's goal came from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark after Kai Havertz clumsily handled the ball in the area.
As the Argentina forward, 22, prepared to shoot from 12 yards, Kepa approached him, crouched and uttered a few words in a bid to unnerve his opponent. This gamesmanship had no effect on Alvarez, who was making his first City start since winning the World Cup and fired beyond the Spanish 'keeper into the bottom corner.
Kepa's efforts to get in Alvarez's head were reminiscent of Emiliano Martinez's shameless mind games in penalty shootouts, especially in the World Cup final against France. The Aston Villa shot-stopper heckled each of Les Bleus' penalty-takers as they approached the area and even grabbed the ball before Aurelien Tchouameni's spot kick.
The Real Madrid youngster pulled his penalty wide of the post, which came after Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman's effort was saved by Martinez, and Argentina went on to triumph in the shootout to lift the World Cup. While Martinez's antics have been successful so often for club and country, Kepa's attempts were futile against City.
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This led former Sky Blues defender Micah Richards to declare, "Not quite Emi Martinez, is he?", before BBC Sport presenter Gary Lineker chimed in, "Pound shop Emi Martinez". Kepa's unsuccessful attempt at mind games summed up a dismal half of football for out-of-form Chelsea.
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Julian Alvarez calmly slotted into the bottom corner to double Manchester City's lead (Getty Images)"Manchester City have been fantastic in every single position," Alan Shearer assessed. "They have dominated all over the pitch and been sensational. From a Chelsea point of view, that is not acceptable, that performance. I said they needed some energy, character, all of those things.
"I don't care how many injuries you've got in your team, you can still go out and put a shift in. They haven't and it's embarrassing from their point of view."
Jermaine Jenas was just as downbeat about the Blues while on commentary, saying: "The faces of the Chelsea players say it all, but they can't give up. There is a lot of disappointment in that team. This could get messy."
The former Tottenham midfielder added: "A shot on target would be nice for Chelsea. Some sign of progression. Something that shows they are not here just to get beat. You have to turn up and show what you are about, especially when you are wearing that Chelsea shirt. Not enough of them did that in the first half."