Garth Crooks has raved about Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez on BBC Sport.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion forward, who now works as a pundit for BBC Sport, has included Martinez in his BBC Premier League Team of the Week.
Crooks was impressed by the performance of Martinez during Villa’s goalless draw with Brighton and Hove Albion away from home in the Premier League at the weekend.
The former Arsenal goalkeeper was superb between the posts, as the 28-year-old denied Alexis Mac Allister, Dan Burn and Joel Veltman with fine saves.
The BBC pundit has said that Martinez looks like a player who is good enough for a top-four club in the Premier League, and has suggested that he should leave if the Villans do not end up in the Champions League places.
Crooks wrote on BBC Sport: “The Argentine is looking every bit a top-four keeper and if he can’t achieve it with Villa I suggest he does it with someone else.”
No panic for Aston Villa regarding Emiliano Martinez
Martinez has been a key player for Villa this season, having joined Dean Smith’s side from Premier League rivals Arsenal in the summer of 2020.
The 28-year-old is the first-choice goalkeeper at the Villans, and his performances between the posts are a big reason why the team are doing so well at the moment.
Villa are eighth in the Premier League table at the moment with 36 points from 22 matches, six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, who have played 24 games.
Even if Villa do not end up in the European places, it is hard to see them sell Martinez after just one season, especially as he is so important to the team.
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