View: Aston Villa need Emi Martinez well rested this summer to get him back to his best
Aston Villa have had a rollercoaster of a season, but Emiliano Martinez’s performance levels have been the topic of many discussions.
Villa signed the Argentina international last summer in a big money deal from Arsenal, as he won the Copa America with a string of impressive saves.
He then turned in a wonderful maiden campaign at Villa Park, keeping a club-record 15 clean sheets in the Premier League and being voted as the Supporters’ Player of the Season.
He was rewarded for the amazing form he had with a brand new contract, but this season he has struggled to recapture that level and the club have dropped from where they were.
This season Martinez has kept 11 clean sheets in the Premier League, with Villa sitting in 15th place after a rollercoaster campaign.
But as the summer transfer window approaches and manager Steven Gerrard looks to bolster his squad in several positions to make them compete for European football again, Martinez’s position is safe.
There simply isn’t a better goalkeeper on the market that is within the Villa budget and there is no need whatsoever to replace him, despite a relatively below par season.
But what could help Villa more than anything is just a simple summer off for the 29-year-old shot stopper.
After a hectic two years of tough schedules and international tournaments where he went the distance, Martinez can now have a solid break from the sport to recharge and refocus his mind.
A new season will commence with the club challenging for new lofty ambitions and they need their top players to be performing at their best to help any new signings come into the side settle quicker.
Martinez has only been at the club for two seasons, but he is already among the leaders and senior players in the side such is his importance.
A summer off helps him rediscover his best form, and means Villa have got one of the best in the division back in their side for the new campaign.
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