While he arrived at Arsenal as a youth product, Emiliano Martinez struggled to make an impact on the first team with the young star making his debut for the club in 2012. However, post that, a series of loan spells and other factors meant that Martinez’s next appearance for the club didn’t arrive until two years later. That trend continued with the Argentine sporadically getting chances to play.
But a move to Aston Villa changed his fortunes as Martinez has since thrived at Villa Park which led to him being called up for Argentina and now their first-choice goal-keeper. So much so, that Martinez’s performances at the 2022 World Cup has many calling him amongst the best in his position. That trend has continued with the now 31-year-old a key part of Aston Villa’s top four challenge.
Samir Nasri annoyed by Emiliano Martinez’s antics after during Lille game
Not only that, Unai Emery’s side are currently in the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League and are the only English side left in a European competition. That is especially after Liverpool and West Ham United were knocked out by Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen respectively. The Villians did have to endure a penalty shoot-out but managed to make it through thanks to Martinez.
The Argentine goalkeeper made two saves to ensure his side’s place in the semi-finals but it was his antics off the line that has gotten attention. After his first save, Martinez heckled the crowd and then received a yellow card for motioning towards the fans while Ollie Watkins was preparing to take a kick. It saw Samir Nasri hit out at his former teammate and the Frenchman revealed that Martinez’s behaviour annoys him.
“His behaviour annoys me because he wasn’t like that before. I knew him when he was very young at Arsenal, he was very shy. And now, this behaviour has become his stock in trade. You stop a shot on goal, you don’t need to abuse the opposition by telling them to ‘shh’,” Nasri said, reported Goal.
“He doesn’t need to do that. With his decisive save on [Randal] Kolo Muani, the penalty shootout against France, again this evening… he doesn’t need to say ‘shh’ for people to talk about him.”
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