Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may have felt that Emiliano Martinez was not as Bernd Leno, but the great Lionel Messi thinks the world of the Aston Villa and Argentina international goalkeeper, as quoted in ESPN.
Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina international forward Messi has said that Martinez, a former Arsenal goalkeeper, is the best at saving penalties.
The former Barcelona star made the comments about the 30-year-old Aston Villa goalkeeper after Argentina’s win against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Argentina got the better of the Netherlands 4-3 on penalties after the tie ended 2-2 after extra time.
Villa goalkeeper Martinez stole the show in the penalty shootout, as the former Arsenal player saved from Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis.
The 30-year-old left Arsenal for Villa in the summer of 2020 and is a regular for the Villans now.
Since leaving the Gunners, Martinez has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and has won the Copa America with Argentina.
And he could now win the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
The 30-year-old goalkeeper did well towards the end of his final season with Arsenal after getting the chance to play regularly due to injury to Leno, who is now at Fulham.
Martinez helped Arsenal win the FA Cup in 2019-20.
However, once Leno recovered full fitness, Arsenal manager Arteta decided to make the German the number one once again.
And Martinez left, eventually becoming the best at saving penalties, according to Messi.
Lionel Messi on former Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez
Messi said: “We needed this and we are happy the whole country is celebrating now. [Martinez] once again showed that he’s the best saving penalties.”
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