‘World class’: BBC pundit wowed by player linked with Tottenham Hotspur

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Garth Crooks has raved about Aston Villa goalkeeper and Tottenham Hotspur target Emiliano Martinez on BBC Sport for his performance against Bournemouth at Villa Park in the Premier League this past weekend.

The former Tottenham forward was hugely impressed by Martinez, who has been linked with a move to Antonio Conte’s Spurs despite his Arsenal links, and has included him in his Premier League Team of the Week.

Crooks has said that Martinez was world class in his goalkeeping against Bournemouth this past Saturday.

The Villans won the match 3-0.

According to 90min, Tottenham are interested in signing Martinez from Villa in the summer transfer window.

The Argentina international goalkeeper, who won the 2022 Qatar World Cup, himself could reportedly be tempted to move to Spurs.

Martinez is a former Arsenal player who could not make a huge impact at the Emirates Stadium and left for Premier League rivals Villa in a £20 million (The Guardian) deal in 2020.

So, if the Argentine does join Tottenham from Villa in the summer transfer window, then it would be a controversial move.

After all, Arsenal and Tottenham are bitter North London rivals.

Garth Crooks on Aston Villa goalkeeper and Tottenham Hotspur target Emiliano Martinez

Crooks wrote: “Martinez’s right-handed stop from a blistering Philip Billing drive when Villa were 1-0 up against Bournemouth was absolutely superb.

“However, the art of good goalkeeping is forcing the striker to change his mind, or forcing him to do something he would prefer not to do – which was precisely what Martinez did when Dominic Solanke was clear with only the goalkeeper to beat.

“The Argentine stayed on his feet before backtracking towards his own goal, all the time continually asking questions of the Bournemouth striker.

“Keepers who repeatedly come running out of their goalmouths in an attempt to win the ball are either often easy pickings for any decent striker or invariably give a penalty away. Martinez did neither, but did give Tyrone Mings the opportunity to get a tackle in instead. World-class goalkeeping.”