Robin Olsen worry emerges ahead of Aston Villa v Fulham after Unai Emery shares Emi Martinez update
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
Alan Hutton admits he was a bit worried when Robin Olsen came off the bench on Saturday when Aston Villa drew 1-1 with Brentford in West London.
Olsen, 33, replaced Emi Martinez at half-time because the Argentina World Cup winner had to go off because he’d been suffering with illness.
Ahead of Villa’s next game, which is against Fulham at Villa Park on Tuesday night (25 April), Unai Emery has said that he’s hopeful that Martinez will have recovered in time to start in goals again [BirminghamLive].
If he isn’t, Olsen would be expected to start in goals to make his fifth Premier League appearance of the season.
Hutton wasn’t too impressed with the Swedish goalkeeper’s performance at Brentford but he does have sympathy for the rarely-seen Scandinavian.
“I must admit it got a little bit nervy when Brentford went through,” Hutton told Villa News.
“You need to let them off a little bit sometimes. He’s not played a lot of football and sometimes his timing can be a little bit off.
“I think there was a header and he just got there but he almost brought the Brentford boy down.
“He did make some decent saves but Martinez, for me, is a cut above.
“But I do feel sorry for goalkeepers because literally, they can hardly be used all season and then get thrown in at certain stages and they’re expected to be an absolute world-beater.
“I do feel for Olsen a little bit but Martinez is an outstanding goalkeeper”.
Olsen conceded four goals when he came off the bench in Villa’s defeat at Newcastle in October and he also conceded to Ivan Toney at the weekend in the 1-1 draw with Brentford.
In the two games he’s started, he’s conceded three in a 3-1 loss to Liverpool and kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win away at Tottenham.
In other Aston Villa news, Christian Purslow is keeping his promise to the squad after a player arrived at Bodymoor Heath ahead of a potential transfer.