Emi Martinez’s save from Nottingham Forest’s Nicolas Dominguez was arguably the perfect 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 mentioned he couldn’t suppose “of a greater Premier League save in my life”, though these final three phrases felt a bit of pointless.
Anyway, it’s cued up on the video beneath and, you’ll probably agree, it was nice.
However how did it examine with different nice saves within the Premier League period?
Saves are a lot more durable to recollect than objectives, 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 greatest aim for his shinned overhead kick for Manchester United a yr earlier, whereas 2011-12 was named greatest season and Nemanja Vidic was voted into the all-star 20-year crew.
Gordon’s save in opposition to Bolton was recent within the reminiscence too, but it surely’s onerous to argue in opposition to it profitable the 2012 award and it stands up very properly immediately.
Zat Knight is just a few yards out when he forcefully prods the ball goalwards.
Gordon stands out 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 Could 2022 was iconic in numerous methods: Richarlison celebrated his profitable aim with a blue flare, Everton’s victory at a feral Goodison Park went some option to protecting them within the Premier League, and Pickford produced a memorable diving save from Cesar Azpilicueta.
After Mason Mount’s shot hit the publish, 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 upcoming save…
… and he has to regulate his physique to dive to his proper after working barely previous the angle.
“I’ve had worse,” he mentioned after. Oh Jordan, you joker.
Probably the most cat-like save on our listing. James is caught quick, checking 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 publish.
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 previous as time; attacker versus goalkeeper, one-v-one, highly effective shot, robust 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 previous folks’s residence in his youth.
Don Hutchison shouts “f***” and places his head in his arms. 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 minimize to shocked silence; or
2) Gamers put their head of their arms.
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 the direction of the nook…
However Hart fingertips it over the bar.
Miguel Almiron completely harrumphs this volley like his life relies on it…
However Alisson unleashes his inside Gandalf and virtually screams, “You shall not go!” with a save that just about defies gravity and physics.
Cudicini let in 4 objectives on this sport, a humdinger of a 4-4 thriller on the previous 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 out an almighty proper paw to by some means block it.
In all probability the save with the quickest response time on our listing.
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 out 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 go away your “I can’t imagine X save was included, I may have saved that” and “Why isn’t X save on the listing, I’m unsubscribing” feedback beneath. Cheers.
GO DEEPER
Emiliano Martinez: Hated by opponents, liked by Argentina, endlessly entertaining
(Prime photograph: Martinez’s save in opposition to Forest; by Shaun Botterill by way of Getty Pictures)
