Emiliano Martinez really surprised Unai Emery at Arsenal and the pair are now joining forces once again at Aston Villa.
Villa haven’t wasted much time in recent days.
Steven Gerrard met his end as Villa boss almost straight after Thursday’s 3-0 defeat away at Fulham.
Villa then moved quickly for Gerrard’s replacement.
Rumours about a deal for Villarreal boss Unai Emery only started at around 7pm last night, yet by 8pm he was confirmed as the new Villa boss.
Emiliano Martinez really surprised Unai Emery
Villa knew who they wanted and made a deal happen, paying the release clause in Emery’s Villarreal deal – worth over £5million.
Emery makes his return to Premier League football some three years since being sacked by Arsenal.
The Spaniard took Arsenal to the Europa League final in 2019 but a disappointing start to the next season resulted in his departure.
Emery rebuilt his reputation at Villarreal, taking them into the Champions League semi-finals last season.
Aston Villa are now hoping that he can bring some of that magic to Villa Park and his move means reuniting with a former Arsenal ace.
Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was in the Arsenal ranks under Emery.
Martinez only played eight games under Emery, keeping four clean sheets whilst conceding 10 goals.
The Argentinian was never really able to bypass Bernd Leno as Emery’s first-choice goalkeeper and he chose to leave Arsenal mere months after Emery’s own exit.
Now Villa’s first-choice goalkeeper, Martinez once admitted that he actually left Emery surprised.
Martinez told Clarin back in 2019 that the reason he stayed at Arsenal was because he sensed real first-team opportunities coming under Emery.
Martinez claimed that Emery was ‘very surprised’ with his qualities, although it didn’t lead to many starts.
The 30-year-old is almost nailed on to be Emery’s first-choice goalkeeper moving forward, only this time the Spaniard won’t be surprised by the ability of his goalkeeper.
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