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Goalkeepers are the last line of a team's rearguard, which is why mistakes from them often result in goals.
It's a common adage that goals win games, but a good defense and a quality goalkeeper help win titles and championships. With this in mind, more and more teams have invested in world-class custodians, and reaped rich dividends.
Most successful teams in Europe's top five leagues have quality goalkeepers. Some notable examples in this regard are Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer, Manchester City's Ederson, PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma and Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois, among others.
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While these players continue to be on top of their games, a few other goalkeepers have also excelled in the continent's top five leagues this season. On that note, here's a look at the five custodians in Europe's top five leagues with the highest save % in 2021-22:
#5 Aaron Ramsdale - 80.6
Eyebrows were raised when Arsenal splashed €28 million to land Aaron Ramsdale from relegated Sheffield United last summer.
However, the 23-year-old has proved his naysayers wrong with a string of calm and composed performances. Ramsdale has usurped Bernd Leno as the club's No.1.
In 17 league games this season, the young custodian has kept an impressive nine clean sheets while conceding 16 goals. That has helped the Gunners recover from a torrid start - losses in their first three games of the season - to seventh place. However, they have two games in hand over fourth-placed Manchester United.
Note: Stole Dimitrievski of Rayo Vallecano (La Liga) also has a save % of 80.6 this season.
#4 Edouard Mendy - 81
Edouard Mendy has been a breath of fresh air since his arrival at Chelsea in the summer of 2020.
The Senegalese was an instant upgrade on the error-prone Kepa Arrizabalaga. Mendy helped Chelsea to the Champions League title last season, and has also played a key role for them in the Premier League.
The shot-stopper recently made his 50th appearance in the English top flight, where he has kept 24 clean sheets. However, only eight of them have come this campaign, as Mendy has appeared uncharacteristically fallible.
Nevertheless, the 29-year-old remains a key player for Thomas Tuchel, who is enduring a difficult second season at Stamford Bridge.
#3 Pau Lopez - 81.4
Goalkeeper Pau Lopez has hit the ground running since his arrival at Marseille last summer.
The 27-year-old has kept an impressive nine clean sheets in his first Ligue 1 campaign, helping his new team to third in the league table. In a game against Strasbourg last year, the Spaniard registered a staggering 73 touches of the ball.
The former AS Roma and Espanyol goalkeeper has also kept two clean sheets in five games in the Europa League.
#2 Samir Handanovic - 81.7
Samir Handanovic is a Serie A veteran. Having made his league debut almost two decades ago (2003-04), he has made nearly 550 appearances in the competition and kept 194 clean sheets.
The Slovenian goalkeeper has made over 350 of those appearances with Inter Milan, with whom he won the Serie A title last season. Still going strong at the age of 37, Handanovic has kept ten clean sheets in 22 games as the Nerazzurri seek to retain their league title.
Though Inter's run of eight league wins came to an end against Atalanta, Handanovic's exploits helped keep the defending champions' citadel intact.
The Slovenian is well on course for his best Serie A campaign in terms of clean sheets. He kept 17 shutouts apiece in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 campaigns (both with Inter).
#1 Jose Sa - 85.9
Jose Sa has had a superb start to life in the English top flight since arriving at Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer.
The Portuguese goalkeeper has kept eight clean sheets in 21 league games, conceding only 16 goals for Wolves, who are eighth in the league table. However, Wolves are only four points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United and have a game in hand.
Impressively, the 29-year-old has kept clean sheets against Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United in his last five league outings.
