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#3 Kasper Schmeichel | Leicester City
Kasper Schmeichel is one of the most composed characters on the football pitch. He does have a fiery side to him, and it gives rise to a steely determination. You often see goalkeepers feeling the stress in tense situations, but Schmeichel steps up as a leader and has a calm air of confidence.
He was only a teenager when he was my teammate at Manchester City. Kasper Schmeichel did have the same passion and aggression at the time, but he was yet to learn how to control it. It’s been fascinating to watch him mature into a leader at Leicester City and become a composed and effective leader.
Kasper Schmeichel has a great goal kick in him, and has the ability to make brilliant saves. I think throwing the ball out is one of the most underused skills in the Premier League, and Schmeichel is one of the best in the business.
Leicester City will find it difficult to win the Premier League this season but they’ll certainly be intent on securing a top-four finish. Kasper Schmeichel has been incredibly important to his side over the years and has grown in stature as a Premier League goalkeeper.
#2 Emiliano Martinez | Aston Villa
My pick for second place was a close call. Emiliano Martinez is a definitive Golden Glove contender this season and is in the form of his life. He’s just won the Copa America with Argentina and everything he’s achieved over the past year will give him plenty of confidence.
I find it quite astonishing that Martinez spent almost 10 years at Arsenal without being given much of a chance. He’s a big man with tremendous physical dexterity, and his reach is one of his strongest assets. Emiliano Martinez has one of the most massive dives I’ve seen and his aerial dominance makes him one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League.
Emiliano Martinez excelled for Aston Villa when they lost Jack Grealish to injury last season. Martinez had a lot of work to do for Villa in the Premier League and came across as a brilliant shot-stopper in excellent form. Goalkeepers love being an active part of proceedings when they’re on song, but they can end up shipping quite a few goals when their team hits a bad patch.
Aston Villa have sold their best player and have made several signings to fill the void. The harmony in that dressing room will go through a change this season and it will be up to the managers and coaches to ensure that the transition is smooth. Martinez is one of the senior figures at Aston Villa and has an important role to play this season.
If Aston Villa’s season doesn’t work the way they’d like it to, Martinez would inevitably become a desirable asset for top clubs. If Villa fail to meet expectations this season, Emiliano Martinez is well-positioned to earn a big-money move and has plenty to play for this season.
#1 Edouard Mendy | Chelsea
A goalkeeper’s role goes far beyond stopping shots. The best goalkeepers in the Premier League have the uncanny ability to reassure their teammates and transform their club’s fortunes. Chelsea were capable of keeping clean sheets with Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal, but Edouard Mendy completely changed everything for the Blues.
Mendy is able to soak pressure and is confident with the ball at his feet. Chelsea’s aerial presence in defense is quite formidable, and their goalkeeper now enhances it with a touch of dominance in the penalty area. Edouard Mendy rarely looks stressed on the ball, and it’s quite rare for goalkeepers to keep their calm under pressure.
Mendy is as close as you can get to the ideal goalkeeper and does have plenty of experience behind him. He enjoyed an excellent first season in the Premier League and may well be the standard that other goalkeepers measure themselves against this year.
People do talk about the second season syndrome, and it’ll be interesting to see whether it has any impact on Mendy’s form. Thomas Tuchel has placed a lot of emphasis on Chelsea’s pre-season schedule, and Edouard Mendy will be intent on proving his mettle yet again in the Premier League.
