A year after leaving Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, Emiliano Martinez won the Copa America with Argentina, and the Aston Villa goalkeeper could now go on to win the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Martinez was on the books of Arsenal from 2010 until 2020 when he moved to Premier League rivals Aston Villa.
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 Bernd Leno, who is now at Fulham.
Martinez helped Arsenal win the FA Cup in 2019-20.
However, once Leno recovered full fitness, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta decided to make the German the number one once again.
And Martinez decided to leave.
Arteta said on Arsenal’s office website in November 2020 that he would have loved to keep Martinez, but he could not guarantee the Argentine playing time.
The Arsenal boss described Martinez as a “very ambitious” player who “performed really, really well” for him.
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in World Cup quarter-finals
Martinez has gone from strength to strength since leaving Arsenal.
The goalkeeper made his international debut for Argentina in June 2021 and then played in the Copa America tat summer.
Argentina won the Copa America in 2021.
Martinez is the number one between the posts for Argentina now, and he has helped them reach the quarter-finals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Argentina beat Australia 2-1 in the Round of 16 tie on Saturday, meaning that Martinez, who made a brilliant save in the final moments of the match, remains on course to become world champion.
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