Former England goalkeeper David James believes Arsenal made an error in selling Emiliano Martinez, describing the Argentine as a ‘monster’ who would be the ideal fit for Mikel Arteta’s current team. Martinez, who has since established himself as one of the Premier League’s top goalkeepers and played a key role in Argentina’s World Cup triumph, was sold to Aston Villa in 2020 for £17m.
Martinez had been at Arsenal for almost a decade but struggled for first-team opportunities, making just 38 appearances as he vied for the No. 1 spot. Loan spells at several EFL clubs followed before Arteta opted to sell him, choosing Bernd Leno as his first-choice goalkeeper for the 2020 season.
However, Leno’s tenure as Arsenal’s main goalkeeper was short-lived, as Aaron Ramsdale replaced him following a £30m move from Sheffield United. Ramsdale, after an initial impressive spell, has since lost his place to David Raya, Arsenal’s current No. 1.
Despite Raya’s strong performances since joining the Gunners, James remains convinced that letting Martinez leave was a mistake. “When you look at the Raya and Ramsdale situation, it’s clear Martinez would have been the perfect goalkeeper for Arsenal right now,” James said on the Seaman Says podcast with Betway. “He’s a monster—he’s got character and is a big-game player. He wants to be in the biggest games.”
Martinez has thrived at Aston Villa, helping them secure a spot in the Champions League and solidifying his reputation as one of the world’s best goalkeepers. He was instrumental in Argentina’s World Cup victory in Qatar and has continued to shine in the Premier League. “There aren’t many goalkeepers with his character in the Premier League these days,” James added. “He’s one of the few who can reach those top corners.”
Peter Schmeichel, widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s greatest goalkeepers, echoed James’ sentiments, believing Martinez’s success at Villa has proven Arteta wrong. “I think he’s proven Arsenal wrong, for sure,” Schmeichel said on the Stick to Football podcast. “He’s a big personality and he’s helping that Villa team a lot. He’s a winner—a World Cup and Copa America winner—and he’s only getting better.”
Despite Martinez’s departure, Arsenal’s defense has remained formidable. Last season, the Gunners boasted the best defensive record in the Premier League, and this season they have conceded just six goals. Arsenal, aiming to win their first league title since 2004, continued their strong form with a 3-1 comeback victory over Southampton on Saturday.
Reflecting on the win, Arteta praised his team’s resilience but lamented missed chances. “The start was exceptional, the dominance, the chances. It was unbelievable not to go one, two, three goals up,” Arteta said. “But the team reacted with a lot of authority, and I am happy we won in the end—we deserved it.”
