David Seaman has labelled Arsenal’s decision to sell Emiliano Martinez this summer as ‘puzzling’.
The Argentine thoroughly impressed when deputising in place of the injured Bernd Leno towards the end of last season, and carried that form through to help us lift the FA Cup and Community Shield.
Mikel Arteta told Arsenal that he wanted to keep both Leno and Martinez into the new season, but the 28 year-old has since left the club to join Aston Villa, much to the surprise of former keeper Seaman.
“We’ve just sold the goalkeeper (Martinez) as well which was a little bit puzzling for me. He had a great end of last season and started this season really well,” Seaman told talkSPORT..
“It was something that I thought Arsenal would keep hold of him because he showed what he could do. The fact he went to Villa it did annoy me.
“I wanted two great goalkeepers at Arsenal because it means they bring the best out of each other, but he wants to be a number one and I think that’s what has decided it.”
Martinez’s heroics were clearly not enough to warrant keeping his number one spot on Leno’s return, but when you consider that the German was voted as second for the the club’s Player of the Season award, which was won by Aubameyang, you can see why.
Did Emi Martinez deserve more time to prove he could take over from Bernd Leno in the long-term?
Patrick
Perhaps DS could name another Club in the EPL which has the luxury of having two excellent keepers of similar ability? He was a great GK , and is of course entitled to his opinion, but sometimes I think he should stick to his fishing.
Grandad…DS is a fisherman? I’m from the states and live 1 hr from 2 worldclass trout streams and fish mostly north country wets.
Seaman loves his fishing
Think these ex players should think before they speak. No way Arsenal could keep 2 outstanding GK and keep them both happy. He wanted to be No1 but thsf was always going to be Leno
Why is he calling Leno and Martinez GREAT? both are yet to achieve that status, the later is yet to even play as number one for a full season. Let the great status be reserved for Seaman and Lehmann at our club as long as i can remember.
All I can say is thank God DS isnt
the man in charge of Arsenals
player recruitment this summer.
SMFH. A team that finished 10 pts
of the top 4 and was closer to the
relegation zone than Liverpool
should keep two #1 goalkeepers
at the expense of upgrading the
roster, specifically in the middle
of the pitch. It has been universally
discussed and accepted that Edu
and MA have to move players out
to fundraise for possible additions.
Pretty hard to accomplish that DAVO
by keeping both EMI and Leno,
ESPECIALLY when the Argentine
refused to fight for the spot. £20M
for a keeper that Arsenal couldnt
give away last summer is a BRILLIANT
piece of business by Edu and MA.
As Grandad stated Seaman should
stick to fishing instead of making
himself look foolish with such
comments.
👍
You have hurt Almunia feelings. Sweet guy.
Arsenal’s greats speak the truth because they have been there and done that. Some Arsenal fans do not like the truth because they are tired of loosing. Hope is what they are looking for.
we needed 18 million to pay Ozils wages and 2 million for a back up keeper. So that explains why Emi had to go. Sad, but true!
Good luck Emi and good luck to AFC to find a decent back up.
Funny but true
Arteta is rebuilding the team, and himself is still to prove himself as Head Coach, or did someone say Manager now, just like Emi, though both won same things as a team. I guess at this stage it is easier to avoid contentions, that comes with fight for starter shirt.
Here now are days of ”signing his own players”. So let’s live with it.
I think being a goalkeeper, he know more than most what he is talking about, i tend to agree with him. The only thing is we were not party to the Martinez side of things and what he thinks or thought. We have sold a quality player.
Martinez no longer wanted to sit on the bench, having shown what he was capable of and putting himself in the shop window. He had one opportunity, made the most of it and was informed Leno was returning to the starting 11. Now he is off to Aston Villa on a 4 year contract with a weekly wage of £65k to try and impress the Argentine selectors.