Premiership: The Best of Week 1

Well the first week of the Premiere League has come to a close and it was a cracking start to the season.  As part of a new series we'll be running weekly, we're going to be running down the top 5 goals of the week, and awarding the best save/keeping performance.

Goals:
Coming in at number 5 we have Andreas Weimann sneaking in a low angle shot off the fingers of Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic.  While the shot does find the top corner, the reason it sits at the bottom of our list is the element of luck.  Asmir knew where the goal was and definitely meant to put the ball on target, but the deflection off the keeper is what makes the goal special, not necessarily the shot on it's own.


At number 4, we have the return of the Rooney bicycle kick.  While this is not as impressive as the bike we saw top the ESPN Sports Center Best of the Best, a bicycle kick still is one of the biggest tests of foot-eye coordination in soccer.  Now while it was beautiful tracking and well struck, the reason it only sits at number 4 is because of his proximity to the goal, he was only about 4 feet from the goal line, so as long as he made contact there was solid shot that the ball would find it's way in.


Number 3 and 2 were nearly impossible to pick between, but in the end we have Nathaniel Clyne on Southampton, hammering one home from the middle of the box.  What's fantastic about this goal, was not only the finish (which was absolutely text book) but the set up.  A brilliantly played back heel set Clyne up perfectly for the top corner finish, and the team play makes the goal just the more impressive.


Number 2 is Scott Arfield's half-volley to give Burnley an early lead over Chelsea.  The blazing shot from just inside the box curved around the oncoming Chelsea defense and left a stunned looking Courtois standing flat footed on his line.  Theres something to be said about a shot that can stump one of the world's top keepers.


And finally, topping our list, Aiden McGeady wonder-curve strike for Everton.  Following a save by Kasper Schmeichel (that was very reminiscent of his father's patented handball style spread eagle saves) McGeady settles the ball and hits a strike that curves harder than most would have thought possible over the space of 20 feet, eventually finding the top corner (and by that we literally mean, it could not have been more in the corner).  This goal is an absolutely brilliant display of technical skill and aim, and very clearly has earned our top spot.


Save:
Now we move on to save of the week.  This week's save comes from Chelsea's new starting keeper, Thibaut Courtois.  The save comes in the 48th minute off a left footed strike from Burnley's Scott Arfield.  The save foils Arfield's attempt for a second goal after his 13th minute shot found the back of the net.  While the shot is not the fastest that Courtois saw all game, what is most impressive about the save was the concentration and tracking while he went to full extension that allowed him to get a palm to the ball and bat it away.


Be sure to come back each week as we count down the best of the past 10 games.  Also, disagree with us or think were just full of it? Let us know, and who you think should have made our list.  Just rant in the comments below.