BBC Sports reporter Alex Howell says that Arsenal fans were singing a song at Aston Villa goalkeeper – and ex-Gunners stopper – Emi Martinez on Wednesday night during their 2-1 win, comparing the Argentine to Aaron Ramsdale.
Arsenal came into the match having won all four of their Premier League matches – securing 12 points. However, Aston Villa are struggling and Steven Gerrard is under pressure. Villa had just three points, losing three of their first four.
Following Wednesday night, that was four from five. Arsenal dictated large spells of the game and opened the scoring through Gabriel Jesus. A low, fizzing drive from Granit Xhaka was parried into the path of Jesus, who tapped home.
The game then sprang into life in the final 20 minutes. Douglas Luiz scored straight from a corner, but only seconds later, Gabriel Martinelli restored Arsenal’s 2-1 lead. That is the way it finished, leaving Arsenal with five wins from five.
Martinez is now in his third season with Villa. But Arsenal fans did not forget, with Howell reporting the Arsenal fans sang: “‘Aaron Ramsdale, he’s better than you’ the Arsenal fans sing towards Martinez in the Villa goal.”
Arsenal fans song at Aston Villa goalkeeper Martinez
It is a bit harsh from Arsenal fans. Martinez was loyal to the Gunners for 10 years, despite only making 14 appearances in the first nine years he was at the club. He broke into the side in the 2019-20 season, playing another 23 times.
Understandably, Martinez made the decision to go. He joined Villa, where he has since taken his career to a new level. He has missed just one Premier League game since joining the club, and won the Copa America with Argentina.
Do Arsenal have a better goalkeeper? Ramsdale is certainly younger than Martinez and that could see him grow to become a much-better option. But you would argue that there is little to choose between the two.
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