Peter Crouch picked Emiliano Martinez in his Team of the Year ahead of Liverpool’s Alisson Becker because of his performances for Arsenal and Aston Villa, as he told Amazon Prime.
Former Premier League striker Crouch admitted that Alisson is still ‘the best goalkeeper in the league’, but his counterpart has done ‘fantastically’ Villa and previously at Arsenal.
It has been some year for Martinez, who lifted the FA Cup with the Gunners before moving to the Midlands where he is sitting in fifth place with this season’s surprise package, Villa.
Crouch shared that he was left ‘surprised’ that Martinez was sold by those in the boardroom in North London, as he made his Team of the Year.
“He was brilliant for Arsenal towards [the back end of last season]. I think he should have stayed in the team. I don’t know how Leno got back in.
“I was surprised that they sold him. I also feel that he has been magnificent for Villa this season. Underrated.
“Alisson is the best goalkeeper in the league by a mile. But Martinez I think deserves a little mention, so I left him in there.
“He [Alisson] is the best goalkeeper in the league but Martinez has played fantastically well.”
Ever since donning the Villa gloves, Martinez has been near-on faultless for Dean Smith’s men and a big reason as to why they are sitting in a European spot.
In his first game for the club, the Argentina international saved a penalty against Sheffield United, with Villa going onto win that match.
That has clearly set the benchmark for the outstanding performances he has produced, as he now travels to Old Trafford on Friday night to take on second-placed Manchester United.
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