In the physical and fast-paced world of Premier League football, it pays to have a goalkeeper who can dominate their penalty area, claiming high balls or punching crosses to safety to relieve the pressure on his defenders.

Such goalkeepers are in short supply and can provide the type of solid foundation that breathes confidence to the rest of the team.

Somewhat surprisingly, statistics show that Watford number one Heurelho Gomes, cruelly laughed out of the Premier League after his spell at Tottenham, is leading the division in both respects so far this season.

The Hornets have started the campaign well after an initial shaky start and have only conceded one more than Manchester United and twice more than Liverpool at the end of nine rounds of fixtures.

Part of that comes from Gomes’ ability to command his penalty area. The Brazilian has successfully claimed a league-high 17 balls so far this season, three more than the next best stopper – West Brom’s Ben Foster and Everton’s Maarten Stekelenburg.

For those who would argue that Watford has faced more pressure than the top team, it’s not drastically more than Petr Cech of Arsenal, who has claimed 13 high balls for a Gunners side only being kept off the top of the table by goal difference.

Gomes also jointly leads the Premier League in punches alongside Swansea stopper Lukasz Fabianski – again, he’s marginally ahead of Everton’s Stekelenburg, with the Toffees currently in sixth place and defensively strong under fresh management.

Premier League Goalkeepers With Most High Claims in 2016/17:

Goalkeeper	Club	High Claims
Heurelho Gomes	Watford	17
Ben Foster	West Bromwich Albion	14
Maarten Stekelenburg	Everton	14
Petr Cech	Arsenal	13
Lukasz Fabianski	Swansea City	13
Jordan Pickford	Sunderland	12

Premier League Goalkeeper With Most Punches in 2016/17:

Goalkeeper	Club	High Claims
Lukasz Fabianski	Swansea City	8
Heurelho Gomes	Watford	8
Maarten Stekelenburg	Everton	7
Jordan Pickford	Sunderland	6
Artur Boruc	Bournemouth	5
Simon Mignolet	Liverpool	5