Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was left stunned on Instagram by Tottenham transfer target Emi Martinez after the Aston Villa goalkeeper helped Argentina win the 2022 FIFA World Cup final in amazing fashion against France on Sunday.
The Chelsea forward stated that his former Arsenal teammate ‘deserved’ to be crowned champion of the world, after Argentina beat France in a penalty shootout following an enthralling 3-3 draw in Doha.
In perhaps the greatest game of football to be played, especially in a World Cup, Argentina were cruising at 2-0 with ten minutes left on the clock, before disaster struck for the South American giants.
Kylian Mbappe scored from the spot-kick, before netting two minutes later with a stunning first-time finish to send the game to extra time.
The drama didn’t stop there because, whilst Lionel Messi thought he had secured the win in the second half of extra time, Mbappe, with a hat-trick, was there to cause heartbreak again, but that’s when Villa’s number one stepped up.
In the final minute of extra-time, he denied Randal Kolo Muani with a point-blank save to send the tie to a shootout, where he denied Kingsley Coman, before forcing Aurélien Tchouaméni to shoot wide.
Martinez was over the moon on his IG, with several of his current and former teammates praising him in the comments section, including Aubameyang writing the following message.
“Another incredible game,” wrote Aubameyang. “Deserved brother.”
VILLA NEED TO KEEP MARTINEZ
As per with World Cups, the heroes of the show are going to be put under a massive spotlight, with teams across Europe gunning for their signature.
That’s what has happened with Martinez, with Antonio Conte’s Tottenham expressing interest in the 30-year-old.
Ironically enough, it’s to replace Hugo Lloris, who was on the other side of yesterday’s thriller, as France’s 2018 World Cup star failed to stop one penalty.
Villa will be confident enough to keep Martinez, especially given that they want to get into Europe and his uber-confident style is going to be needed.
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