'Special performance' - Sanchez's renaissance

A year ago, a run of poor Robert Sanchez performances and notable mistakes led to links surrounding Chelsea replacing their first-choice goalkeeper in the January transfer window.

No goalkeeper had made more than his three mistakes leading to goals, while £20m signing Filip Jorgensen was pushing for a run in the team after featuring in cup matches.

It was a narrative that did not go away, and Sanchez was dropped for the whole of February.

Fast forward a year and he is the undisputed number one for a team widely considered ready to mount a title push.

The 28-year-old made three saves in Sunday's draw with Arsenal, including getting down low with a strong arm to keep out Martin Zubimendi late on before reacting quickly to bravely throw himself in front of Viktor Gyokeres - pictured above - who was attempting to bundle home the rebound.

Asked about Sanchez's performance at full-time, Enzo Maresca said: "Robert was very good.

"When you have 10 players against Arsenal, for sure if you want to take a point or win the game, you need some special performance, like Robert, like Reece [James]."

The Blues' late-season run to Champions League qualification and impressive victory in the summer's Club World Cup seem to have been part of a transformative period for Sanchez and provided a springboard for much-needed consistency.

Large sections of the fanbase were disappointed a potential move for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan failed to materialise. Now Blues supporters have a tongue-in-cheek chant celebrating Sanchez's marked improvement.

Only his Spain team-mate David Raya of Arsenal (seven) has kept more clean sheets than his six so far this season - with the Blues boasting the division's fourth-best defence.

At Chelsea, very little is certain - but Sanchez's improvement has taken the goalkeeper position at the club for now from chaos to relative stability.