Emi Martinez produces a sensational save for Aston Villa against Nottingham Forest.
Emi Martinez produces a sensational save for Aston Villa against Nottingham Forest.
Footage of Emi Martinez’s mindblowing save against Nottingham Forest has quickly gone around the world, not least in Argentina where wowed pundits have been salivating over slow motion replays.
Aston Villa are kicking themselves for losing 2-1 at the City Ground on Saturday evening but a clip of Martinez somehow saving a close range Nicolas Dominguez shot will be watched and watched again long into the future. Dominguez had headed a Morgan Gibbs-White corner on target and the ball went behind Martinez, who somehow managed to reach back, stop it on the goalline and drag it clear.
The headlines back home in South America capture the quality of the moment. “From another planet,” write El Grafico. “Dibu Martinez’s shocking save.”
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They add: “Emiliano Martinez once again showed his faith with an epic save at the City Ground when the game was 0-0. The Argentine national team goalkeeper had a spectacular reaction to a header from his compatriot Nicolás Domínguez. Dibu made a saving effort that left the ball gently on the goal line, before a defender finally cleared it. Domínguez was stunned by such a great save from Dibu, who continues to surprise the world week after week.”
Infobae were superlative too.
“Emiliano Martínez was once again fundamental for the Villanos with a spectacular save,” they write. The Argentine goalkeeper denied his compatriot the sacred goal with a miraculous save on the line.
“The former Vélez player was bothering Dibu before the corner was taken, so he connected with the shot from the small area a few meters from the goalkeeper. Despite that, the ball went in a direction to the middle of the goal, where the former Arsenal player managed to stretch his arm and stop the ball on the touchline, then push it out so that Diego Carlos could clear the danger.”
Todo Noticias declared the moment a contender for best save of the year. It was in the headline as a ‘great save’ by both La Gaceta and El Ancasti, ‘incredible’ by La Voz and ‘impressive’ by Bolavip. It was ‘impossible’ in El Destape, ‘brutal’ in Rosario3, ‘heroic’ in Ahora and ‘shocking’ in Post.
Diario Registrado said: “The save of the year? Dibu Martínez once again showed why he is the best goalkeeper in the world.”
In Spain, AS went with: “The infinite miracle – the Dibu Martinez stop that you won’t believe.”
There was a similar reaction closer to home.
Marc Albrighton, on BBC co-commentary duty, said: "I thought that was in but what a superb save. Martinez has got down so low and so quick, and somehow kept it out.
“He is not even facing the right way and manages to claw it away. I honestly can't believe it. It is centimetres from going in, that is incredible. That is one of the best I've seen."
Jamie Redknapp, watching for Sky Sports, said: "We talk about the Pele one from Gordon Banks. I can't think of a better Premier League save in my life. Somehow he saved it. It's almost like a magician, sleight of hand. That is truly sensational."
Ashley Williams told BBC Match of the Day: "That was the best save I have ever seen. He is so clever, he understands where he is and what he needs to do. He is facing the wrong way.
"Then, the ups and downs of a goalkeeper, he lets in a routine one soon after."
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