The 2020 English Premier League season was riddled with fantastic performances. But at the same time, there were some players who underperformed and didn’t live up to expectations.
Here are some of the 2020 EPL players who disappointed this season.
Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea)
Kepa is currently the most expensive goalkeeper in the world, having been signed from Athletic Bilbao for €80 million. Although he had a solid first season with the Blues, even helping them win the Europa League title, this one was a season to forget.
Kepa had the second-lowest save percentage in the league with 48% and has even 12 goals than expected. Chelsea has one of the worst goal tallies in the league which saw Lampard leaving Kepa on the bench for their last game against Wolves. The Blues are now actively seeing a substitute for Kepa while looking to offload him somewhere else.
Tanguy Ndombele (Tottenham)
To tell the truth, Tanguy Ndombele really ran into a string of bad luck. After being signed by the former manager Mauricio Pochettino for a record fee of €62 million, Tanguy was seen as the perfect substitute for the departing Moussa Dembele. He did have a great start, scoring on his debut and picking up the Man of the Match accolades against Southampton.
But Tanguy struggled with form and injuries when Jose Mourinho took over. He never really recovered from the groin injury that kept him away from the pitch for 20 days and was forced to play through the pain. The results were lackluster performances and criticism for lack of application from the manager.
Joelinton (Newcastle)
The Brazilian forward Joelinton was brought on by Rafa Benitez to replace Salomon Rondon. His reference was the performance he displayed at Hoffenheim that prompted the £40 million move to the Magpies. But Rafa left and in came Steve Bruce with a much more conservative style of play that did not boast Joelinton at all.
To tell the truth, this was not an excuse as Joelinton has shown to be unfit for the Premier League. He was prone to missing big opportunities and was shaky and uncomfortable on the pitch. He ended the campaign by scoring only twice in 38 matches this season.
Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
It seems ridiculous to say that Mesut Ozil is still an Arsenal player. He only played 18 times this season and managed to get on the score sheet once and grab two assists. Also, he only made one appearance after the coronavirus break.
For a player making £350,000 a week 2.1 chances created per match are still not enough. Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta has firmly stated that he wants him out of the club for next season.
Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
Jesse’s career has seen a significant drop this season. He was once a staple when Jose Mourinho was the coach and a sure choice for the national side. However, the 2020 Premier League season has not been kind to Lingard.
He only managed to score one goal (zero assists) and that was in the extra time against Leicester City on the last matchday. With Bruno Fernandes being one of the EPL’s most prolific players in 2020, Jesse’s days on Old Trafford may be numbered.
