‘Maybe not the best’: Tony Adams claims Arsenal just can’t win title with £22m player

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Tony Adams has criticised Arsenal for selling Emiliano Martinez, suggesting that he’s a better goalkeeper than Bernd Leno.

The Gunners raised more than a few eyebrows this past summer when it was reported that Martinez was up for sale.

Arsenal won the FA Cup last season and the Argentine’s form played a huge role in their end-of-season form, which included wins over Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool.

They wound up selling him to Aston Villa in a £20 million deal after Mikel Arteta revealed to Martinez that Leno – who had missed virtually all of Project Restart through injury – would be getting the number one shirt back for the 2020-21 campaign.

The 28-year-old returned to the Emirates Stadium with Villa on Sunday and left with a 3-0 victory as Dean Smith’s side ran ragged against Arteta’s troops.

Arsenal are now 11th in the Premier League going into the international break.

And their legendary former captain Adams believes it was a mistake to offload Martinez, claiming Leno – a £22 million signing in 2018 – just isn’t the vintage needed to win the title.

He told Sky Sports News [broadcast 09/11]: “I’ve always said if Arsenal ever want to win the league again they’ve got to get the best goalkeeper. And for me, Leno is maybe not the best goalkeeper. I question Martinez being let go, that was a mistake for me.

“I think Martinez has come of age, he performed excellently last season. Why would you, a club that’s wanting to win the league, let go one of the best goalkeepers in the country?”