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Who’s number one? Counting down the top five saves of the season by Premier League keepers

Planet Sport charts the best saves of the campaign. Will Ramsdale or Bazunu be top of the stoppers? Or will it be someone else altogether.

They say you have to be mad to be a goalkeeper.
After all, who would willingly stand at the far end of the pitch while one of their team-mates scores an intricately-crafted goal, almost never gaining the plaudits and often bearing the brunt of criticism for conceding?
Well, there might be one reason. When goalkeepers' moments of glory arrive, they don't half arrive in style, and wonder saves can be etched into the memory for just as long as wonder goals.
There has certainly been no shortage of those this season, and Planet Sport brings you our top five.

5. Edouard Mendy (Chelsea vs Brentford)

Chelsea were indebted to Mendy as they eked out a slender win away to newly promoted neighbours Brentford, despite being under the cosh for much of the second half. The Bees had 17 shots, seven of which were on target, as they peppered the Senegalese's net.

Mendy repeatedly denied Thomas Frank's men, but the absolute pick of the bunch was the stop he made in second-half added time from Christian Norgaard. Ethan Pinnock delivered a delicious ball in from the left that Norgaard acrobatically met with an overhead kick from ten yards out, but the Blues stopper flashed an arm upwards to spectacularly palm it over the bar.

When it's not your day, it's just not your day, Brentford.

4. Tim Krul (Norwich City vs Brighton & Hove Albion)

Veteran Dutch stopper Krul has masses of experience in the Premier League, but he showed age is absolutely no barrier to performance, with an impressive showing, and a clean sheet to boot, against Brighton in October. He made a string of saves, but there was one notable highlight in the first half.

Shortly after he had been involved in a moment of VAR controversy in a tangle with Seagulls striker Neal Maupay, Krul produced a stunning fingertip stop to deny Leandro Trossard. The attempt initially felt a little bit hopeful, as Trossard volleyed aerially towards goal from just inside the right corner of the box, but the extra dip on the ball suddenly made it a very real threat.
Krul summoned his wits to get the very tip of one finger on the ball and divert it onto the bar, ensuring he maintained his clean sheet and earned the Canaries a vital point.

3. Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa vs Southampton)

It was almost inevitable that Martinez would figure in this list, with the Argentine having been a revelation between the sticks since making the switch from Arsenal to the West Midlands in September 2020. Villa were beaten 1-0 in this fixture at St Mary's in a result that ultimately cost Dean Smith his job, but were it not for Martinez, the result may well have been far worse.

This denial of Che Adams, who nodded on James Ward-Prowse's free kick, midway through the second half was the latest in a long line of his highlights in a Villa shirt.
The Saints captain's delivery from the right side was inch-perfect, as per, and it took Martinez leaping like an overexcited salmon to tip away Adams' glancing header that looked destined for the top corner.
Ward-Prowse's reaction tells you it all.

2. Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal vs Leicester City)

There are some players who, when they step up to take a free-kick, the watching crowd awaits with bated breath, almost expecting a goal. James Maddison is one of those players. And when he was offered the opportunity to half Leicester's 2-0 deficit at home to Arsenal, you would have put good money on the ball nestling in the back of the net.

Step (or perhaps leap) forward, Aaron Ramsdale. Maddison aimed for the top right corner and the ball looked to be past Ramsdale before his acrobatic leap and powerful hand diverted the ball onto the crossbar. The danger wasn't over though and Ramsdale got down to make a brave follow-up save from Jonny Evans close in too.

Unless you're a Leicester fan, it's one you'll want to watch again… and again.

1. Gavin Bazunu (Republic of Ireland vs Luxembourg)

If you've not seen this save, go and watch it immediately. If you have seen this save, go and watch it immediately, again. Yes, it really is that good.

Manchester City youngster Gavin Bazunu, who is currently on loan at Portsmouth, delivered an out-of-this-world reminder of his burgeoning talent to the Etihad hierarchy while on international duty with the Republic of Ireland.

Playing away to Luxembourg and with the scores still goalless, the 19-year-old was faced with a particularly tricky attempt from distance by Olivier Thill, with the ball having deflected off Republic defender Josh Cullen on its way through. It corkscrewed towards the bottom left corner, a certain goal, surely… not in the slightest! Bazunu spectacularly leapt across and somehow produced an otherworldly stop.
Seriously, watch it. You won't regret it. Ederson who?

READ MORE: The Analyst: Salah, Wilson and Krul among the Premier League chart-toppers 11 games in

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