Emi Martinez’s save from Nottingham Forest’s Nicolas Dominguez was arguably the best we’ve seen in the Premier League this season.
Sky Sports commentator Alan Smith called it a “miracle”. This does some harm to turning water into wine, but you get what he’s saying.
Jamie Redknapp said: “I couldn’t ask for a better Premier League in my life,” but those last three words felt a bit unnecessary.
Anyway, the video below will give you some hints, and I think you’ll agree. It was really good.
But how does it compare to other great saves from the Premier League era?
Saves are much harder to remember than goals. athletic Refresh your memory.
The Premier League celebrated its existence by holding the Premier League 20th Season Awards in 2012.
There was some recency bias among the winners. A year ago, Wayne Rooney scored his best goal for Manchester United with a brilliant overhead kick, 2011-12 was named the best season and Nemanja Vidic was selected as a 20-10 All-Star. Year team.
Gordon’s save against Bolton is also memorable, but it’s hard to argue against winning the award in 2012 and remains very relevant today.
There were only a few yards left when Zat Knight powerfully pushed the ball toward the goal.
Gordon holds out his arm…
Then extend your claws over the bar. I point this out because it only comes from Zat Knight, but it’s still a huge save.
Everton’s 1-0 win over Chelsea in May 2022 was symbolic in many ways. Richarlison celebrated his winning goal with a blue flare, Everton’s win at a wild Goodison Park went some way to keeping them in the Premier League, and Pickford made a memorable diving save from Cesar Azpilicueta.
After Mason Mount’s shot hit the bar, Pickford went wide of his goal as the ball headed towards Azpilicueta.
Pickford immediately recognized the danger and sprinted behind the goal line, giving himself extra space to make the impending save.
…and then you have to adjust your body to run slightly past the angle and then dive to the right.
“I’ve been through worse,” he said. Oh Jordan, you are the Joker.
This is the most feline save on our list. James was caught short as he cleared the Portmouth wall opposite goal when referee Uriah Rennie told Gareth Barry he could have had a quick free-kick.
James sprinted across the goal line and then dived with all his might to tip the ball around the post.
Peter Schmeichel, Manchester United vs Liverpool, 1993
Pure reflexology from an OG PL GK (the original Gangsta Premier League goalkeeper).
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It’s a story as old as time. Striker vs. goalkeeper, 1v1, powerful shot, powerful save. And there is no better example in Premier League history.
Schmeichel’s left wrist is stronger than steel. It was trained while working as a janitor at a nursing home as a child.
Don Hutchison screamed “f***” and grabbed his head with both hands. This is an appropriate response.
There are two good indicators that a special save has just occurred.
1) The fans screamed in celebration of the goal and then fell into silence in shock. or
2) Players put their heads in their hands.
Four Swansea players have done this since Joe Hart saved from Federico Fernandes in 2015.
What preceded their reaction was an acrobatic save of the highest quality. Fernandez’s header heads towards the corner…
But Hart got his finger over the bar.
Miguel Almiron executes this volley perfectly as if his life depends on it.
But Alisson unleashed his inner Gandalf and almost screamed. “You won’t pass!” It has a save feature that almost defies gravity and physics.
Cudicini scored four goals in the match, a mammoth goal in a 4-4 thriller at the old White Hart Lane, but he also produced one of the best saves of the Premier League era.
Tottenham’s Dimitar Berbatov, who takes a free shot from 12 yards, should of course score, but Cudicini’s weight is turned to the left when he attempts.
…But he adjusts his body and sticks out his all-purpose right foot to somehow block it.
Probably the save with the fastest reaction time on our list.
Arsenal’s Leno blocked Christian Eriksen, but the ball found its way to Moussa Sissoko, who struck the ball clear on the edge of the box.
With two players blocking his way, Leno can only see the ball at the last millisecond.
But I reached out to divert it.
Ian Wright tweeted the word ‘Leno’ along with several applause emojis. You can’t say it any fairer than this.
That’s right, please leave comments below like “I can’t believe X saves are included. I could have saved them” and “Why isn’t X saves listed, I’m unsubscribing”. Cheers.
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Emiliano Martinez: Hated by his opponents, loved by Argentina and endlessly entertaining.
(Top photo: Martinez’s save against Forest; By Shaun Botterill via Getty Images)
