Arsenal’s defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday raised some questions about the Gunners’ title credentials.
The festive period can often make or break a title push, and Arsenal will be concerned that a result like this could well derail their own aspirations.
To make matters even worse, Arsenal lost to one of their closest contenders – Aston Villa, against a team with Unai Emery in charge – a former Arsenal manager, Ollie Watkins up front – a former Arsenal target and Emi Martinez in goal – a former Arsenal star.
Where would Arsenal be now if Emi Martinez was their goalkeeper?
Martinez has won the Yashin Award twice since leaving Arsenal
Martinez was fantastic against the Gunners, and speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Martin Keown has been discussing the Argentine and Arsenal’s decision to ultimately sell him to Aston Villa.
Emi Martinez could have helped Arsenal win the Premier League
Keown spoke about Martinez’s journey in his career so far.
The pundit spoke about how it’s remarkable that Martinez was at Arsenal for such a long time without getting much of a sniff, and once he did get a shot, he was sold shortly afterwards.
Keown claimed that Martinez may have been the right goalkeeper to take Arsenal to the next level, but he was let go.
“His journey has been remarkable. He was at Arsenal for years, and they were loaning him out, left, right and centre. He finally gets in the team, wins an FA Cup and then he goes, he’s gone,” Keown said.
“Maybe they had the right man in the room at the right time, but Raya is an excellent goalkeeper, but it’s taken them quite a few years to get back to the level of Martinez”
What Emi Martinez told Mikel Arteta when he left Arsenal
Martinez didn’t have the Arsenal career his talent perhaps deserved, but he does still have a lot of fond memories in north London.
Indeed, Martinez spent a long time at Arsenal, and he would eventually win an FA Cup with the Gunners.
When he left the club, Martinez parted with some kind words for Mikel Arteta, via The Independent.
“I thanked him, I said I won these trophies because of the way he trained, the way he changed the team. I trust his process so much, he is incredible. [When he was a player], I always thought he was different. It’s like with [Lionel] Messi, I don’t see him as a top player, I see him as a top coach.
“He’s got so much to prove and I wish him all the best. I will always love everyone at Arsenal, I will always be grateful, but it was time to say goodbye.”
Martinez and Arteta have a good relationship, but they are closer to being rivals than friends at the moment as Aston Villa try to compete at the very top of the Premier League table.
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