Manager upset his friends by taking one player away from Arsenal in August

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Dean Smith has revealed that some of his Arsenal-supporting mates gave him a bit of stick for signing Emiliano Martinez this past summer.

Aston Villa shelled out a cool £20 million to bring the Argentine goalkeeper to the West Midlands from North London.

The 28-year-old had enjoyed a brilliant end to last season, helping Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side to FA Cup glory.

But Martinez seemed determined to quit the Gunners after 10 years upon discovering that Arteta intended to keep Bernd Leno as his number one option this season.

He has proven himself a top signing by Aston Villa so far, endearing himself to Villa fans in a big way.

But the Aston Villa boss has claimed via The Express & Star that his friends – who follow the Emirates Stadium side – weren’t all that pleased.

Smith said: “I have a few Arsenal-supporting mates who were a little bit surprised when we managed to get him,” said Smith. I did get some not particularly glowing text messages from them after we took him. For us it was a statement of intent.

“Emi played at the end of last season and won the FA Cup, the Community Shield at the start of this season and probably saw himself as being the No.1 at Arsenal. I think that maybe wasn’t guaranteed for him and we are the happy recipients.”

Martinez is set to go back to Arsenal with Smith’s side tomorrow and how he would love to beat his old team-mates – and it isn’t that unlikely.

After all, the North Londoners struggle to score goals in the Premier League, having found the net just the once in their last three games in that competition.

And with Martinez having a brilliant last six months in terms of form, he might fancy his chances of keeping his old mates at bay.