Was Emi Martinez’s save against Nottingham Forest the best of the Premier League era? – Blogging Sole

Emi Martinez save against Nottingham Forest’s Nicolas Dominguez was arguably the best we’ve seen in the Premier League this season.

Alan Smith, commentating for Sky Sports, called it “miraculous”, which doesn’t do the turning of water into wine any favors, but you get what he’s saying.

Jamie Redknapp said he couldn’t think of ‘a better Premier League save in my life’, even if those last three words seemed a little pointless.

Anyway, it’s shown in the video below and, you’ll probably agree, it was awesome.

But how does it compare to other great saves of the Premier League era?

Stops are much harder to remember than goals, so leave them Athletics refresh your memory.

---

The Premier League celebrated its existence in 2012 when it hosted the Premier League 20 Seasons Awards.

There was a bit of recency bias among the winners, with Wayne Rooney winning the top goal for his brilliant overhead kick. Manchester United a year earlier, when 2011-12 was named the best season and Nemanja Vidic was elected to the 20-year-old all-star team.

Gordon’s save against Bolton was also fresh in the memory, but it’s hard to argue with him winning the 2012 prize and he holds up very well today.

Zat Knight is only a few meters away when he forcefully pushes the ball towards the goal.

Gordon extends his arm…

And he claws him over the bar. Bad points because it was Zat Knight only, but still, awesome save.

Everton’s 1-0 win over Chelsea in May 2022 was iconic in several ways: Richarlison celebrated his winning goal with a blue rocket, 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 against Cesar Azpilicueta.

After Mason mount‘s shot hit the post, a sprawling Pickford found himself outside the width of his posts as the ball headed towards Azpilicueta…

Pickford immediately recognized the danger and curved his sprint behind the goal line to give himself more space to make the impending save…

…and he has to adjust his body to dive to his right after going slightly over the angle.

“I’ve had worse,” he said afterwards. Oh Jordan, you joker.

The most feline save on our list. James is caught off guard, sorting through the Portmouth wall on the opposite side of his goal when referee Uriah Rennie tells Gareth Barry he can take a quick free-kick.

James sprints towards his goal and dives hard to tip the ball around the post.

Peter Schmeichel, Manchester United v Liverpool1993

Pure reflexology from the OG PL GK (Original Premier League Gangster Goalkeeper).

It’s a story as old as time; attacker against goalkeeper, one on one, powerful shot, powerful save. And there is no better example in the history of the Premier League.

Schmeichel’s left wrist is stronger than steel, forged after working as a cleaner in a nursing home in his youth.

Don Hutchison screams “f***” and puts his head in his hands. This is an appropriate reaction.

There are two good indicators that a special save has just occurred:

1) The fans make noise to celebrate the goal, but then just give way to stunned silence; Or

2) Players put their heads in their hands.

Four Swansea players do this after Joe Hart’s save against Federico Fernandez in 2015.

What preceded their reaction was an acrobatic save of the highest quality. Fernandez’s header is directed towards the corner…

But Hart fingers him over the bar.

Miguel Almiron absolutely harrumphs this volley like his life depended on it…

But Alisson unleashes his inner Gandalf and almost shouts, “You shall not pass!” » with a save that almost defies gravity and physics.

Cudicini scored four goals in this match, a little over a 4-4 thriller at the old White Hart Lane, but he also produced one of the finest saves of the Premier League era.

Tottenham’s Dimitar Berbatov, with a free shot from 12 yards, should obviously score, but when he lines up his attempt, Cudicini’s weight shifts to the left…

…but it adjusts its body and sticks out an almighty right paw to block it somehow.

Probably the backup with the fastest reaction time on our list.

Arsenal’s Leno had just blocked Christian Eriksenbut the ball was heading towards Moussa Sissoko who hit him square in the face from the edge of the box.

With two players in his way, Leno can only see the ball at the last millisecond…

But he stretches out his hand to turn him away.

Ian Wright tweeted the word “Leno” with several clapping emojis. I can’t say it more accurately than that.

Okay, please leave your comments “I can’t believe backup X was included, I could have backed it up” and “Why isn’t backup X on the list, I’m unsubscribing” below. Cheers.

(Top photo: Martinez save against Forest; by Shaun Botterill via Getty Images)