“They carelessly let me and Xhaka Go and didn’t appreciate us enough”- Aston villa and Argentina int’l goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez fires back at Arsenal for letting him and Xhaka leave the club carelessly.
“They carelessly let me and Xhaka Go and didn’t appreciate us enough”- Aston villa and Argentina int’l goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez fires back at Arsenal for letting him and Xhaka leave the club carelessly.
Emiliano Martínez Blasts Arsenal: ‘They Carelessly Let Me and Xhaka Go’
In a scathing interview, Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has lashed out at his former club Arsenal, accusing them of carelessly allowing both him and midfielder Granit Xhaka to depart the club.
Martínez, who left the Gunners in the summer of 2020 to join Aston Villa, has been in sensational form for both club and country over the past two years. His heroics at the 2022 World Cup, where he helped Argentina reach the final, have cemented his status as one of the best goalkeepers in world football.
Meanwhile, Xhaka, who was widely expected to leave Arsenal in the summer of 2021, ultimately stayed at the club and has since become a key player under manager Mikel Arteta.
Both Martínez and Xhaka were important members of the Arsenal squad, and in a candid interview, the Argentine shot-stopper expressed his disbelief at how carelessly the Gunners let them go.
‘They Didn’t Appreciate Us Enough’
“I look back now and I’m just amazed at how Arsenal handled the situations with me and Granit,” Martínez said. “We were two experienced, important players for them, and they just let us go without much of a fight.”
The 30-year-old goalkeeper revealed that he had been seeking assurances over his playing time at Arsenal, with the club constantly rotating between him and Bernd Leno in goal.
“I made it clear that I needed to be the undisputed number one if I was going to stay. But Arsenal just wouldn’t commit to that,” Martínez said. “They seemed to value Leno more than me, even though my performances were just as good, if not better.”
Martínez’s frustrations were echoed by Xhaka, who had also been expected to leave the club before Arteta managed to convince him to stay.
“Granit and I had given so much to Arsenal over the years,” Martínez continued. “We were loyal, committed players who always gave 100%. But in the end, they just didn’t seem to appreciate us enough.”
A Missed Opportunity for Arsenal
Both Martínez and Xhaka have gone on to have tremendous success since leaving Arsenal. Martínez has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League with Aston Villa, while Xhaka has become an integral part of the Gunners’ resurgence under Arteta.
In hindsight, Martínez believes Arsenal made a significant mistake in allowing them to depart so easily.
“Looking at how things have turned out, I think Arsenal really missed a trick,” he said. “They let go of two top-quality, experienced players who could have been instrumental in helping them get back to the top.”
Martínez’s comments will undoubtedly sting for Arsenal fans, who have had to watch their former players thrive elsewhere. The club’s hierarchy will no doubt be hoping to avoid similar situations in the future, as they look to rebuild and challenge for major honors once again.
