Emi Martinez’s save from Nottingham Forest’s Nicolas Dominguez was arguably the very best we now have seen within the Premier League this season.
Alan Smith, commentating for Sky Sports activities, dubbed it “miraculous”, which does a slight disservice to altering water into wine, however you get what he’s saying.
Jamie Redknapp stated he couldn’t assume “of a greater Premier League save in my life”, though these final three phrases felt slightly pointless.
Anyway, it’s cued up on the video under and, you’ll doubtless agree, it was nice.
However how did it examine with different nice saves within the Premier League period?
Saves are a lot tougher to recollect than targets, so let The Athletic jog your reminiscence.
The Premier League congratulated itself for current in 2012 when it ran the Premier League 20 Seasons Awards.
There was a little bit of recency bias among the many winners, what with Wayne Rooney profitable finest aim for his shinned overhead kick for Manchester United a yr earlier, whereas 2011-12 was named finest season and Nemanja Vidic was voted into the all-star 20-year workforce.
Gordon’s save towards Bolton was recent within the reminiscence too, but it surely’s onerous to argue towards it profitable the 2012 award and it stands up very effectively right this moment.
Zat Knight is barely a few yards out when he forcefully prods the ball goalwards.
Gordon stands proud an arm…
And claws it over the bar. Factors off as a result of it was solely from Zat Knight, however nonetheless, large save.
Everton’s 1-0 win over Chelsea in Might 2022 was iconic in quite a few methods: Richarlison celebrated his profitable aim with a blue flare, Everton’s victory at a feral Goodison Park went some technique to protecting them within the Premier League, and Pickford produced a memorable diving save from Cesar Azpilicueta.
After Mason Mount’s shot hit the put up, a sprawling Pickford was outdoors of the width of his posts because the ball headed to Azpilicueta…
Pickford instantly recognised the hazard and curved his dash behind the goalline to provide himself additional room to make the approaching save…
… and he has to regulate his physique to dive to his proper after working barely previous the angle.
“I’ve had worse,” he stated after. Oh Jordan, you joker.
Probably the most cat-like save on our checklist. James is caught quick, finding out Portmouth’s wall, on the alternative facet of his aim when referee Uriah Rennie tells Gareth Barry he can take a fast free kick.
James sprints throughout his aim and dives at full stretch to tip the ball across the put up.
Peter Schmeichel, Manchester United vs Liverpool, 1993
Pure reflexology from the OG PL GK (authentic gangster Premier League goalkeeper).
GO DEEPER
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It’s a narrative as outdated as time; attacker versus goalkeeper, one-v-one, highly effective shot, sturdy save. And there’s no higher instance in Premier League historical past.
Schmeichel’s left wrist is stronger than metal, cast from working as a cleaner in an outdated folks’s residence in his youth.
Don Hutchison shouts “f***” and places his head in his fingers. It’s an acceptable response.
There are two good indicators {that a} particular save has simply occurred:
1) Followers make a aim celebration noise however then simply lower to surprised silence; or
2) Gamers put their head of their fingers.
4 Swansea gamers do that after Joe Hart’s save from Federico Fernandez in 2015.
What preceded their response was an acrobatic save of the very highest high quality. Fernandez’s header is directed in direction of the nook…
However Hart fingertips it over the bar.
Miguel Almiron completely harrumphs this volley like his life is determined by it…
However Alisson unleashes his interior Gandalf and virtually screams, “You shall not move!” with a save that nearly defies gravity and physics.
Cudicini let in 4 targets on this sport, a humdinger of a 4-4 thriller on the outdated White Hart Lane, however he additionally produced one of many best saves of the Premier League period.
Tottenham’s Dimitar Berbatov, with a free shot from 12 yards, ought to clearly rating, however when he traces up his try Cudicini’s weight is heading left…
… however he adjusts his physique and stands proud an almighty proper paw to someway block it.
In all probability the save with the quickest response time on our checklist.
Arsenal’s Leno had simply blocked from Christian Eriksen, however the ball was headed out to Moussa Sissoko who thwacked it full pelt from the sting of the field.
With two gamers in the best way, Leno can solely see the ball on the final millisecond…
However stands proud a hand to divert it over.
Ian Wright tweeted the phrase ‘Leno’ with a number of clapping emojis. Can’t say fairer than that.
Proper, please depart your “I can’t consider X save was included, I might have saved that” and “Why isn’t X save on the checklist, I’m unsubscribing” feedback under. Cheers.
GO DEEPER
Emiliano Martinez: Hated by opponents, cherished by Argentina, endlessly entertaining
(High photograph: Martinez’s save towards Forest; by Shaun Botterill by way of Getty Photographs)
