Arsenal Legend Tony Adams Laments Decision To Let Emi Martinez Go

By The Editor
on 10th November 2020

Arsenal legend Tony Adams feels Emi Martinez should still be at the club…

Arsenal legend Tony Adams has lamented the club’s decision last summer to sell Emi Martinez to Aston Villa after the Argentine’s side picked up a deserved three points at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, he told Sky Sports.

Martinez joined The Villans in August after Mikel Arteta failed to guarantee him the No.1 jersey, with Bernd Leno starting our opening game at Fulham.

The former academy graduate ended his poetic Arsenal story last season with an FA Cup winners’ medal following a stunning run of form.

Martinez had been at the club for over a decade and was never viewed as a serious option between the sticks. However, an injury to Leno at Brighton following the restart forced Arteta to turn to his former teammate.

The 28-year-old took his chance and never looked back, producing stunning displays which led to a number of eager clubs across Europe registering their interest.

Given his very patient rise to the top, Martinez was not prepared to wait any longer and with just 24 months left on his deal, the shot-stopper requested to be sold.

While his departure brought in much-needed finances which eventually resulted in the arrivals of Gabriel and Thomas Partey, Adams feels his sale was a mistake.

“I always said if Arsenal want to win the league again they need the best goalkeeper and for me, Leno is not the best goalkeeper,” Adams told Sky Sports’ ‘The Football Show’.

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“I’ve called into question with Martinez being let go. That was a mistake for me. I think he’s come of age and he performed excellently last season.

“Why would you – a club wanting to win the league – let go one of the best goalkeepers in the country? I don’t see that as a good decision.”