Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to drool over Vicente Guaita’s save against Arsenal.
Roy Hodgson’s side managed to grab a 1-1 draw against Mikel Arteta’s men thanks to Jordan Ayew’s equaliser, which saw him become the first Palace player to score home and away against the Gunners in the Premier League.
However, the south Londoners had another man to thank after earning a point – Guaita.
The Spaniard pulled off a wonderful fingertip stop to deny Nicolas Pepe in the 83rd minute, in which he prodded the shot onto the post before springing back into action, smothering the ball to prevent Alexandre Lacazette from tapping in.
83: Incredible double save from VG! Pepe’s shot is tipped onto the post and he gets up to deny Lacazette from four yards out!
Massive let off.
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 11, 2020
It was truly a point-winning moment and a save that the 32-year-old really had no right to make, while also being a particularly brave act as well seeing as Guaita lunged at the feet of Lacazette and could easily have been hurt by his studs.
After the game, Palace now sit on 29 points from 22 Premier League games this season, while Hodgson’s side have the joint-fourth best defence having conceded just 24 goals in those 22 outings – Guaita has been a huge part of that impressive record.
Let’s see how the Palace fans on Twitter reacted to the save…
The most important player at our club
— LFizzia (@LFizzia) January 12, 2020
This fan kicked off the reaction by making the bold claim that the Spaniard is “the most important player at our club” following his monumental effort to keep ten-man Arsenal out in the dying embers of Saturday’s game – that speaks volumes while Wilfried Zaha is also at the club.
So many things to admire – the initial save by Guaita to tip Pepe’s shot on to the post, the bravery of the smothering save from Lacazette, Jimmy Mac’s covering on goal line & Cahill’s reaction to when the ball is finally safely in Vicente’s grasp #CRYARS
— richard foster 🦅 (@rcfoster) January 12, 2020
Elsewhere, this supporter decided to admire many aspects of the former Getafe man’s intervention.
⛔️ HUGE from Vicente Guaita ⛔️
The Spaniard gets a fingertip on Nicolas Pépé's effort before pouncing on the rebound to deny Alexandre Lacazette!
A massive double-save to secure Palace a point! 👏 pic.twitter.com/Dh9tgglrUh
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 11, 2020
Aside from the fingertip stop and the bravery that followed, Richard pinpointed James McArthur running back onto the goal line, as well as Gary Cahill’s celebration after the ball remained safely in Guaita’s grasp.
One of the best saves I’ve ever seen. The first is incredible but the reaction to get back up and smother the rebound is something else. His highlight reel just gets better and better.
— Simon Bannister (@Bannister121) January 12, 2020
Simon went as far as saying that Guaita’s stop was “one of the best saves I’ve ever seen”, before noting that the glovesman’s highlights reel is just getting better and better – it certainly wasn’t the only stunning stop made by the Palace No.31 this season.
Wow I didn’t realised he touched it onto post best keeper in the PL what a signing
— Steve robin (@waterywater) January 12, 2020
Furthermore, Steve said “wow” after realising that Guaita got a touch to Pepe’s shot, before branding the Spaniard as the “best keeper in the” Premier League – a bold statement to say the least.
He has been amazing all season!!
— Steve Herbert (@Steve17959) January 12, 2020
Unbelievable save.
— Ben McCarthy (@BenMcCarthy76) January 12, 2020
Call yourself a Premier League expert? How much did each of these big-money January signings cost?
Lastly, these two supporters added to the adoration over Guaita and his save.
Steve said that “he has been amazing all season” whereas another fan named Ben simply said that it was an “unbelievable save” – you can’t argue with that.
In other news, Crystal Palace’s transfer stance on this player is absolutely bonkers…
