Arsenal’s season seemed doomed a few weeks ago when Bernd Leno went down injured against Brighton. The German was one of the biggest reasons why the Gunners weren’t down in the bottom half of the table, and his knee problem struck fear in fans’ hearts.
Emi Martinez came in for Leno and has been between the sticks since. The Argentine has been at Arsenal for a long time but there were concerns about his quality in goal.
However, Martinez has been exceptional for the Gunners and some might even say that he has been better than Leno since he replaced him a few weeks ago.
That is a big statement to make but his stats show that he has indeed fared better. Martinez boasts of a save percentage of 81.8% as of last week, the best return from a goalkeeper who has featured for over 500 minutes in the Premier League. (Sun)
His stats outshine Leno’s in every department as well. (Sun) That is a surprise considering how integral the German had been for Arsenal since the start of the season, but if there is one person who isn’t at all shocked by Martinez’s stats, it’s Arsene Wenger.
Martinez revealed a few months ago that the former Arsenal boss used to tell him that he is the future of the club. The Argentine has had to to wait for a decade to get his chance but now that he has, he is proving Wenger right.
He told Arsenal’s official website back in September: “I’ve been here for so many years and the only reason I’ve stayed here is because I believe I can be the No 1 here. I’ve got all the qualities you need.”
“Arsène Wenger, when he was here, always used to say to me, ‘Emi, you’re the future of this club’. I believe that I can be a No 1. Don’t get me wrong, I accept my role as a No 2 at the moment, but my target is to get that No 1 jersey.”
“Arsène used to say that goalkeepers peak when they’re 30 but I believe that I already feel commanding in every aspect at the age of 27. With the ball at my feet, left foot, right foot, I feel more connected with the back four and I’m more vocal too.”
Martinez joined Arsenal as a teenager. The Argentine has had his flaws previously but he has overcome that to become one of the best goalkeepers at Arsenal, if not in the Premier League.
Leno, as brilliant as he was, won’t get a straight return to the starting eleven. The German will have to work extremely hard to retain his number one spot but if Martinez continues to play as he has been, Leno will have to settle for a spot on the bench.
Wenger, the manager who first gave Martinez a chance at Arsenal will be proud of how well he has done. The Argentine now has to remain consistent to nail down a place for Arsenal which will soon help make him his country’s number one as well.
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