Kepa Arrizabalaga saves the day as Chelsea edge past Plymouth in FA Cup

Kepa Arrizabalaga’s penalty heroics helped Chelsea avoid a shoot-out as the Blues edged past Plymouth 2-1 in the FA Cup fourth-round but only after extra-time.

The Spain goalkeeper guessed correctly and then smothered Ryan Hardie’s last-gasp spot-kick, after the Plymouth striker had been felled by Malang Sarr.

Marcos Alonso thought he had settled the tie with a neat finish in extra-time, only for League One Argyle to battle back and force one more opening.

Kepa kept his cool to conjure a fine save however, on a day where Chelsea markedly missed Thomas Tuchel after the Blues head coach tested positive for Covid-19.

The German could now be forced to miss Chelsea’s Club World Cup campaign in Abu Dhabi next week due to isolation regulations.

The Blues remain hopeful Tuchel will be able to head out to the United Arab Emirates next week, but the Chelsea squad will jet out without him on Saturday night.

Macaulay Gillesphey headed Plymouth into an early lead, converting ex-Chelsea youth midfielder Jordan Houghton’s whipped free-kick.

Cesar Azpilicueta levelled via a fine backheel finish just before half-time, with Chelsea having hit the woodwork three times.

The Chelsea skipper will surely know his cute effort carried undertones of Gianfranco Zola’s masterful flicked goal in the 4-0 FA Cup win over Norwich in 2002.

A first goal for the Spaniard in a year could not open the floodgates however, and the Blues were left to toil through extra-time for their win.

Chelsea’s day started in the disarray of Tuchel’s positive Covid-19 test, leaving assistants Arno Michels and Zsolt Low to take charge against Argyle.

The Blues clearly missed Tuchel’s energy and urgency on the touchline, with a lack of such attributes seeping into the hosts’