Arsene Wenger has lauded former Arsenal goalkeeper Emi Martinez after Argentina qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, with the now-Aston Villa star playing every minute of the competition.
Speaking to the Mirror, the legendary French manager was full of praise for Martinez, who joined Arsenal under Wenger’s reign in north London as the Premier League icon handed the South American his debut in English football.
Martinez spent over ten years at Arsenal, the majority of which was spent out on loan at numerous English clubs and some ventures abroad, yet it was in 2020 when the Argentine got his big break as the keeper covered for an injured Bernd Leno under Mikel Arteta as the Gunners won the FA Cup.
The spell in the XI saw Arsenal sell Martinez to Villa, where the keeper has gone on to establish himself as one of the best shot-stoppers in the Premier League as well as Argentina’s undisputed no. 1, where the 30-year-old has now won praise from his former manager Wenger based on his displays out in Qatar.
Wenger said when asked about Arsenal’s former goalkeeper and now World Cup finalist Martinez: “I am very happy for him. We were aware of his huge qualities. He was determined and had a desire to learn and a big passion for the game.
The Arsenal legend added with: “Sometimes he went out on loan and didn’t even play. But it didn’t stop his belief and motivation. When I see him now play knowing what he went through I admire even more his achievement. Well done Emi, we are proud of you.”
Arsene Wenger right to laud Emi Martinez based on World Cup heroics
A star for Argentina in the penalty shootout against the Netherlands, Martinez has been one of Argentina’s most important players at the World Cup this winter, and whilst Arsenal have well moved on from the goalkeeper, Wenger’s praise for his former shot-stopper is more than deserved.
After all, Martinez didn’t paly regular Premier League football until the age of 28, and the South American is now set to start in a World Cup final, arguably the biggest fixture any player will ever get the chance to compete in and one that an Arsenal star hasn’t featured in since 2014.
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