This is an observation of modern keepers and not just Artur, but they all seem more prone to spilling the football than I remember before keepers wore the big gloves. There were keepers like Pat Jennings or Gordon Banks who would claw the ball out of the sky and it would stick in their bare hands or they would wear small gloves. Jennings looked like he wore massive gloves but actually his hands were that big..! He could grip the old heavy ball in one hand, so plucking a cross from the sky with two was child's play. Keepers today are much better shot stoppers than they generally used to be, but they don't command their areas like the majority used to years ago. I wonder if it is the gloves that have helped to change all that.
The balls are lighter. Those old ones used to be a doddle to catch because they were so heavy! Or that's my guess.
A lot more movement on the ball nowadays as well. Makes it trickier to catch. But I do think part of it is that because of changes in the equipment and rules, the skillset of keepers has changed as well. The priority nowadays is having quick reflexes and getting to more balls over sure-handedness. Not that both aren't still hugely important, just the emphasis has shifted a bit.
Just after I posted I remembered that there is video footage out there of Pat Jennings catching a whipped in cross single handed. And it stuck..!
Just watched a youtube compilation of some of his greatest saves. Whilst it's true there is a lot more movement on modern balls, it's sort of miraculous how often the ball stuck to Jennings' hands. He just plucked fast moving balls out of the air.
I will never forget the look on Van Persie's face when Artur pulled off that save (Artur basically said it hit him, to be fair). RVP looked utterly bewildered. Priceless. Vin
Gutted for AB. I hope Gaz takes this chance. Bar some pretty massive individual errors last season, I think we all saw some undoubted talent, so lets get behind him.
The rule is... no emergency keeper loans in the Premier League. We registered Gazzaniga with the Premier League, so we will be expected to field him if both AB and KD are out. Even if PG got injured I think we'd be expected to field Cropper. Not sure though.
