Thursday, March 28, 2024

Arsenal set for Emiliano Martinez talks as Mikel Arteta faces transfer dilemma

After 10 years of waiting for an extended chance as an Arsenal number one, Martinez has proven his credentials in resounding fashion over recent weeks, playing a crucial role in the Gunners’ improvements under Arteta that culminated in the FA Cup Final win over Chelsea.

Martinez, who turns 28 next month, excelled whilst Bernd Leno was out injured over the past six weeks and has made no secret of his belief that he could eventually be Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper. Whilst having two of this season’s best shot-stoppers vying for one spot is a selection dilemma that Arteta would relish it could also prove to be an unsustainable environment when both have proven their worth so emphatically.

Martinez has made no secret of his desire to establish himself as Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper nor his belief that he is good enough to do so. Having joined the club as a 17-year-old he shares a deep affinity with the Gunners and few who note him would doubt that his ideal goal is to start regularly for his current club.

Talks over Martinez’s future are expected to take place imminently with Arsenal eager to extend a contract that expires in the summer of 2022. Before the Argentine commits to fresh terms at the Emirates Stadiumfootball.londonunderstands he will look for assurances over exactly what role he will have in the 2020/21 season.

Unai Emery previously assured Martinez he would be given a starting berth in cup competitions and the chance to compete with Leno for a Premier League role. Whether such guarantees would now be enough to retain the services of a player who has interest from top-flight clubs including Leeds United is not clear.

Having proven his worth with Arsenal Martinez’s priority is understood to be establishing himself as Argentina’s No.1 in time for next summer’s Copa America, which takes place in his home country and Colombia.

Speaking before the FA Cup Final Martinez insisted his focus was purely on that match but said of the prospect of being a number two: “I don’t think anyone wants to be a second goalkeeper, especially if you believe so much in yourself.

“I never accepted that I’m a back-up keeper. People say you’re a back-up and it hurts your feelings because you work to be the No.1. That’s me.”

He has done plenty to discredit those who labelled him a back-up, ending the season with the Premier League’s highest per 90 differential between the expected goals an average goalkeeper would have conceded and the number he actually let in.

According to fbref.com his post-shot xG minus goals allowed per 90 was 0.49 – i.e. in every two games Arsenal played with Martinez in goal Arteta’s side conceded one less than they would have with a league-average goalkeeper between the posts.

Leno, who began the season as Arsenal’s No.1, has been sidelined since June 20 when he damaged the ligaments of his knee but returned to training last week. Prior to that injury, he had been enjoying an exceptional season, his second with the Gunners since joining from Bayer Leverkusen.

Between them, Leno and Martinez ensured that Arsenal goalkeepers made more saves (143) than any other team in the Premier League last season with a higher save percentage at 78.3%

Source: football.london

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