Emiliano Martinez crucial to super Aston Villa Premier League achievement, ace leading in one key department
Aston Villa have enjoyed a phenomenal season, with Unai Emery working miracles in the dugout to help bring the club back into contention for European football.
The attacking exploits of the likes of Ollie Watkins, Jacob Ramsey and Emiliano Buendia have been crucial to the success, as have the defensive sturdiness of the likes of Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa.
But behind every successful defence is a successful goalkeeper, and fortunately for Villa they have one in Emiliano Martinez.
His confidence has undoubtedly sky-rocketed following his 2022 World Cup success with Argentina, with the number one currently on 11 clean sheets for the season, according to the official Premier League website. Only David de Gea (16), Alisson (14), Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale (13) have made more.
Martinez is, however, level with Manchester United ace De Gea on 91 saves and behind only Pope (34) and Illan Meslier (30) when it comes to sweeper clearances, with the Villa man on 29.
But one area in which the Argentine is leading the way is high claims, with Martinez’s 54 well ahead of David Raya’s 47 in second, as per the official Premier League website.
All of the above have helped Aston Villa secure 10+ clean sheets in three consecutive Premier League seasons for the first time since 2004/05 –2006/07, as noted by Aston Villa Statto.
While his form has been superb news for Emery, it has also led to some bad news, with Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea, perhaps unsurprisingly, keen on his signature this summer [The Mirror, 12 May].
Given the finances available to the Blues and the Red Devils, Villa will certainly find it difficult to keep their number one, but securing European football may just be enough to convince him to stay for another year.
In other Aston Villa news, one Villa sensation has passed the first-team test with a senior role now firmly on the cards.