Any Arsenal fan who argued that Aston Villa signed an inferior goalkeeper in Emiliano Martinez last summer might want to hide for a little while.
Arsenal sold Martinez to Aston Villa for £20 million in September in what was quite a controversial move.
It was controversial because the Argentine stopper had just helped the Gunners to an FA Cup title and was arguably the club’s best player during Project Restart, while deputising for the injured Bernd Leno.
But Mikel Arteta and Edu told Martinez that Leno – a £22 million signing from Bayer Leverkusen in 2018 – would be getting the gloves back upon returning from injury, prompting the South American to look elsewhere.
And there’s no denying that Martinez has been much better for Villa than the Germany international has for Arsenal this season.
Leno has made quite a few howlers this season and there was yet another one on Friday night, when he somehow managed to divert Richarlison’s tame cross into his own net as Everton won 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
It was anything but a laughing matter for Arsenal fans, but here’s how some supporters of the Villa Park club reacted to it on Twitter:
The North Londoners picked up a very decent for Martinez because, let’s face it, £20 million is nothing to be sniffed at.
But it does look very much like Arteta and Edu sold the wrong goalkeeper.
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