Paul Merson has strongly criticised Aston Villa goalkeeper and Tottenham Hotspur target Emiliano Martinez in The Daily Star, and has wondered if Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta sold the Argentina World Cup winner due to his attitude.
The Sky Sports pundit was not impressed by the celebrations of former Arsenal goalkeeper Martinez, now linked with Antonio Conte’s Tottenham, following Argentina’s 2022 Qatar World Cup triumph.
Argentina beat France in the final of the World Cup.
Martinez was brilliant in the final, making some excellent saves in extra time and also saving a penalty in the shootout.
The 30-year-old Argentina international goalkeeper has been hitting the headlines ever since for his celebrations, especially how he has been mocking Paris Saint-Germain and France international forward Kylian Mbappe.
Former Arsenal and Villa star Merson has not been impressed, and has wondered if the Gunners sold him because of his attitude.
The 30-year-old hardly played for Arsenal until his final season at the North London club when he got the chance due to injury to Bernd Leno.
However, once Leno got fully fit, Arsenal manager Arteta decided to reinstate the German as his number one goalkeeper.
And Martinez left for Premier League rivals Villa in a £20 million (The Guardian) deal.
Interestingly, the Argentine has been linked with Arsenal’s bitter North London rivals Tottenham.
Well-known and well-respected journalist Dean Jones told Give Me Sport this month that Martinez is among the goalkeepers that Tottenham are interested in signing and are keeping an eye on him.
Paul Merson on Tottenham Hotspur-linked former Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez
Merson wrote: “Emiliano Martinez mocking Kylian Mbappe during Argentina’s World Cup celebrations showed a lack of class.
“You’re talking about one of the greatest players in the world – what do you want him to do, laugh and joke when he loses the biggest game in football?
“I’m not a huge lover of Martinez, people say he’s a great goalkeeper, he did make great saves in Qatar but I’m not his biggest fan.
“Prior to the tournament, his best football was played during lockdown with Aston Villa.
“Arsenal obviously saw something when they let him go as they weren’t exactly rolling in world-class goalkeepers.
“Martinez was ripping it up at the time but they still decided to sell and keep Bernd Leno. You wonder if that kind of attitude was the reason.
“That said he’s a World Cup winner and was a massive part of it, so you have to take your hat off to him.”
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