It must be a weird feeling to be a backup goalkeeper because the only way you’re getting on the pitch is either in a meaningless cup game or if disaster strikes.
The second happened at Arsenal last season when Bernd Leno went down with a season ending injury, while it’s fair to say that little was expected of Emiliano Martinez.
That wasn’t because he hadn’t shown he was good enough, it was because he had barely played and nobody knew how good he was.
READ MORE: Arsenal set €30m price tag for defender as Juventus open transfer talks
It turns out he’s a fantastic keeper and he played a huge part in Arsenal’s FA Cup win, but you can’t blame him if he’s not willing to go back to being the number 2 again.
Leno is a fantastic keeper and he’s one of the few Arsenal players who is guaranteed to start when he’s fit, so it looks like Martinez could be on his way out of the club:
#Arsenal
?Ready to sell Emi Martinez
?Leno is Arteta No.1
?Raúl set £20m fee but EM hopes #afc will half demands
??? move likely
?#AFC owe Martinez 6/7 figure bonus agreed for delaying contract talks so long
?Wants regular football to be ?? No.1https://t.co/b0UYs1usno— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) August 28, 2020
He turns 28 next month so it really is time for him to finally establish himself as the first choice keeper somewhere, while the report also suggests that he wants to leave to further his chances of becoming the Argentine number 1.
It looks like Leno is now fit enough to return so this could happen soon, although it will mean that Arteta will need to bring someone else in.
Arsenal’s website lists Matt Macey as the next in line but he’s never played at a level higher than League One, so it would be a massive call for Arteta to place his trust in him.
Interesting
Just when I thought Arteta knew what he was doing, he turns out to be just another busted flush.
Putting AMN, Bellerin and now Martinez up for sale.
What is the chance that Arsenal will even replace these players in the market, let alone improve upon them.
If Arteta and the boys in the backroom think Leno is the better keeper, I am not sure I can support him anymore.
I hear Paul Tiernay does not like London, so maybe he will be off to Leicester.
Hey, lets sell all of the players who bet Man City and Chelsea in the cup.
Then we can buy some more dead beat friends of EDU.
It is not his decision, club needs/wants money, Artera said he watn AMN to stay, he said Martinez is amazing. He knows “what is up” my friend.
Nobody forces you to support the club you love btw. You are here from your freewill.