It seems there will not be much contention over the title of save of the season in the Premier League this year.
Aston Villa’s goalkeeper, Emi Martinez, has showcased an incredible save during the team’s 2-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
In a remarkable moment, the Argentine international found himself slightly off his line as Nottingham Forest’s Nicolas Dominguez directed a header toward the goal. Reacting swiftly, Martinez extended his left hand behind him and managed to knock the ball down onto the ground, deftly scooping it away from crossing the line in an extraordinary display of reflexes.
The Premier League hailed this save as “world class,” while the BBC suggested that it could potentially be regarded as “one of the all-time great Premier League saves.”
Jamie Redknapp, a former England and Liverpool midfielder, who was commentating on the match for Sky Sports, expressed his admiration, stating, “I can’t think of a better Premier League save,” and likening Martinez’s skills to that of a magician performing sleight of hand.
Just three minutes later, Martinez was celebrating when his teammate Jhon Duran scored, giving Villa the lead at the City Ground. However, Nottingham Forest turned the game around, netting two goals in the closing minutes to seize the victory.
Martinez has earned acclaim as the best goalkeeper in the world at the Ballon d’Or awards for the past two consecutive years.
He is also renowned for an unforgettable save during the dying moments of regulation time in the 2022 World Cup final, where he thwarted a shot from French striker Randal Kolo Muani. This crucial intervention played a significant role in keeping teammate Lionel Messi’s aspirations alive for securing football’s most prestigious title.
This latest commendation for Martinez underscores his extraordinary talent and agility, further solidifying his reputation as one of the premier goalkeepers in modern football.
