Matthew Upson has told The Football Show on Sky Sports (20/01/21 at 12:10 pm) that Emi Martinez has been ‘one of the best transfers of the summer’ following his move from Arsenal to Aston Villa.
The former Gunners centre-back shared that after being ‘outstanding’ for Arsenal, Martinez is now thriving on the Villa Park stage.
After winning the FA Cup with Arsenal, the 28-year-old went searching for regular first-team football and has seemingly made the right call in signing for a thriving Aston Villa side.
Upson hailed Martinez as a goalkeeper and the squad Dean Smith now has at his disposal in B6.
“They signed a goalkeeper which, for me, he was probably one of the best transfers of the summer,” said Upson.
“Getting Emi Martinez from Arsenal, who was outstanding for Arsenal towards the end of last season. A brilliant signing for Aston Villa.
“They [Villa] have a really good team and the most important thing, they are at a great age and that’s a team, if they keep it together, will get better and better.”
A lot is made about whether Arsenal made the right call to let Martinez go, but they had to stay loyal to their number one, Bernd Leno.
It has been some journey for Martinez, who had been at Arsenal for over ten years where he was trying to prove his worth.
The moment of change came in the summer when Leno’s injury against Brighton started the road to the Argentina international proving that he is one of the top keepers in the Premier League.
Martinez lifted the FA Cup in North London and now he will be hoping to use his experience to lift some silverware in the Midlands.
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