Emi Martinez will go down in history books after breaking Aston Villa goalkeeping record v Bournemouth
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez has more than repaid his £17million price tag when signing from Arsenal in 2020 after breaking the club’s record for the most clean sheets recorded after 100 games.
The Argentine international was once again at his best to deny Bournemouth from finding the back of the net on several occasions during the 3-0 win at Villa Park on Saturday (18 March).
As well as the victory being the goalkeeper’s third clean sheet in his last four Premier League outings, it was also his 34th clean sheet from his first 100 games at Aston Villa.
The previous holders of the record were former legends of the club, Mark Bosnich and Brad Friedel, who had both managed to record 33 clean sheets before reaching the three-figure mark for appearances.
Not only does this record cement Martinez in the Villa Park history books, but it also sets him on course for breaking Bosnich’s overall club clean sheet record of 64.
Obviously, reaching these lofty numbers depends on whether the 30-year-old remains at Villa Park beyond this season, with The Sun [21 February] reporting that the shot-stopper would be made available for a summer transfer exit if the club’s valuation is met.
However, considering his recent form under Emery, and the overall direction the club is taking, Martinez would be foolish to leave the club now.
The former Arsenal player has taken giant strides since previously working under Emery at the Emirates Stadium and has grown into a strong presence in between the sticks for Villa.
He is a dominant presence in the air, sitting in the 98th percentile for crosses stopped over the last year while also improving his sweeper-keeper abilities, sitting in the 67th percentile for defensive actions outside of the penalty area from goalkeepers in Europe’s top-five leagues. [FBREF]
Martinez has already cemented himself as one of the club’s greatest-ever goalkeepers, but if he continues his sky-high trajectory, he can still reach yet higher heights at Villa Park.
In other Aston Villa news, one player has finally put to bed Unai Emery’s selection dilemma following a stunning performance against Bournemouth.