Why Arsenal were right to move on Emi Martinez despite the Argentine’s fine form for Aston Villa
“Wasn’t in my plans to sell”
When Arsenal decided to sell Emi Martinez in the summer of 2020, there were questions asked of the decision and very much regarding the choice to keep Bernd Leno as the club’s number one.
Martinez had come into the side due to an injury to Leno from a collision with Brighton’s Neal Maupay. He kept 3 clean sheets in his 9 league appearances and helped Arsenal to an FA Cup victory against Manchester City in the semi and Chelsea in the final.
Martinez though was sold because he could not be guaranteed a starting birth the following campaign with the return of Leno. The money from Aston Villa was too good for Arsenal to turn down also. Villa boss Dean Smith was ecstatic his side were able to sign the Argentina international.
“We moved for Emi when we saw the opportunity,” Smith said. “As it is rare to be able to buy a top-class goalkeeper who hasn’t yet reached their peak age and who can therefore be a key player for our club for the long term.”
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JULY 21: Emiliano Martinez of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal FC at Villa Park on July 21, 2020 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
Arteta explained how whilst he did not want to sell him, the ambition of the player, the financial implications and the lack of starting guarantees meant he couldn’t say no.
“Obviously, it wasn’t in my plans to sell him, but we gave him the chance because he deserved it. He performed really really well but we have to balance the books. We have to make the right choices in the market and obviously, I couldn’t guarantee him to be the number one,” he said.
But were Arsenal right?
Looking at the performances of Martinez, it would be very easy to simply say that Arsenal were fools for selling, but it isn’t so cut and dry. The summer for Arsenal was difficult and required the reported investment of their owners to pull off the Deadline Day deal for £45 million Thomas Partey.
Prior to the Ghanaian’s arrival, Arteta decided there were needs in the forward line and central defensive departments. The restrictions brought about by the pandemic were evident in the signing of Willian from Chelsea. Arsenal pounced on the Brazilian out of contract but reportedly paid him a significant wage and signing-on fee. Gabriel Magalhaes was signed from Lille for £20 million-plus.
Therefore, the £20 million deal for Martinez, a player who was third choice at the club just two seasons ago was an excellent recoup for the Gunners who had notoriously sold poorly in the past.
But, why not sell Leno instead? The simple answer is for what Arsenal would have wanted there simply weren’t the suitors. A market affected by Covid saw minimal fees being paid by clubs and considering the keeper had cost the club in the region of £20 million just a couple seasons prior and developed since, Arsenal would not have been willing to let him leave without a significant profit.
Arsenal’s German goalkeeper Bernd Leno saves a shot from Liverpool’s Portuguese striker Diogo Jota during the English League Cup fourth round football match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on October 1, 2020. (Photo by Peter Byrne / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PETER BYRNE/AFP via Getty Images)
There is also the strong argument that Leno is still and has been a very good keeper. Granted the cataclysmic error against Wolves would say otherwise, however, Arsenal currently have the second best defensive record in the league, significantly thanks to Leno’s work between the sticks.
If Martinez, by which all reports and quotes suggest were the case, wanted to leave and Arsenal were offered the aforementioned fee whilst having a top-class keeper in Leno at the club, it makes complete sense as to why they sold him.
Arsenal fans have seen a host of players leave and do well since. Serge Gnabry, Ismael Bennacer and Donyell Malen to name but a few. But selling, specifically well, is an important part of a successful club and something the Gunners have lacked of late.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 18: Serge Gnabry of Arsenal takes on Scott Parker of Fulham during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Fulham at Emirates Stadium on January 18, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Had Arsenal brought in a better back-up, there is also the argument this discussion may not even be the case. Gunners fans should wish Martinez the best but also appreciate the quality what they have in Leno.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta backs decision to sell Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta backs decision to sell Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa
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| Leicester vs Arsenal Result/Both teams score | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Leicester | 15/4 | 10/3 |
| Arsenal | 9/2 | 4/1 |
| Draw | 10/3 | 9/1 |
| Leicester vs Arsenal Goalscorers | First | Last | Anytime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamie Vardy | 13/8 | 13/8 | 1/1 |
| Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | 2/1 | 2/1 | 13/10 |
| Alexandre Lacazette | 9/4 | 9/4 | 7/5 |
| Eddie Nketiah | 13/5 | 13/5 | 8/5 |
| Folarin Balogun | 10/3 | 10/3 | 11/5 |
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| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City FC | 25 | 35 | 59 |
| 2 | Manchester United FC | 25 | 21 | 49 |
| 3 | Leicester City FC | 25 | 17 | 49 |
| 4 | West Ham United FC | 25 | 10 | 45 |
| 5 | Chelsea FC | 25 | 16 | 43 |
| 6 | Liverpool FC | 25 | 11 | 40 |
| 7 | Everton FC | 24 | 4 | 40 |
| 8 | Aston Villa FC | 23 | 11 | 36 |
| 9 | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 24 | 10 | 36 |
| 10 | Leeds United | 25 | 0 | 35 |
| 11 | Arsenal FC | 25 | 5 | 34 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 25 | -6 | 33 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace FC | 25 | -14 | 32 |
| 14 | Southampton FC | 25 | -12 | 30 |
| 15 | Burnley FC | 25 | -12 | 28 |
| 16 | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 25 | -6 | 26 |
| 17 | Newcastle United FC | 25 | -17 | 25 |
| 18 | Fulham FC | 25 | -11 | 22 |
| 19 | West Bromwich Albion | 25 | -36 | 14 |
| 20 | Sheffield United FC | 25 | -26 | 11 |
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|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 17 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 15 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 13 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 13 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 13 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 13 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 12 |
| Gundogan, Ilkay | Manchester City FC | 11 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United FC | 10 |
| Watkins, Ollie | Aston Villa FC | 10 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 9 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 9 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City FC | 9 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace FC | 9 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City FC | 8 |
| Ings, Danny | Southampton FC | 8 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 8 |
| Aubameyang, Pierre-Emerick | Arsenal FC | 8 |
| Soucek, Tomas | West Ham United FC | 8 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 7 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellerin, Hector | Arsenal FC | 0 | 8 |
| Gallagher, Conor | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | 8 |
| Lundstram, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 6 |
| Evans, Jonny | Leicester City FC | 0 | 7 |
| Egan, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 6 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 1 | 6 |
| Milivojevic, Luka | Crystal Palace FC | 1 | 6 |
| Hayden, Isaac | Newcastle United FC | 0 | 7 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 6 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 6 |
| Hojbjerg, Pierre | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 0 | 6 |
| Xhaka, Granit | Arsenal FC | 1 | 5 |
| Maguire, Harry | Manchester United FC | 0 | 6 |
| Romeu, Oriol | Southampton FC | 0 | 6 |
| Luiz, Douglas | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 5 |
| Kante, N`Golo | Chelsea FC | 0 | 6 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 0 | 5 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 0 | 5 |
| Dallas, Stuart | Leeds United | 0 | 5 |
| Soucek, Tomas | West Ham United FC | 1 | 4 |
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|---|---|---|
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 11 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 10 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 10 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City FC | 9 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 6 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 6 |
| Cresswell, Aaron | West Ham United FC | 6 |
| Digne, Lucas | Everton FC | 6 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 5 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City FC | 5 |
| Firmino, Roberto | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 5 |
| Werner, Timo | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 5 |
| Robertson, Andrew | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Shaw, Luke | Manchester United FC | 5 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 4 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 4 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United FC | 4 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City FC | 4 |
