Emiliano Martinez needs healthy competition at Aston Villa, Unai Emery may need to explore transfer market opportunity
Aston Villa have been excellent in the transfer market so far, showing clear signs that they are a team on the up but Unai Emery may need to add further quality behind Emiliano Martinez.
The Villans have already spent almost £80million this summer on three key additions in Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres while acquiring Youri Tielemans’ services on a free deal from Leicester City after his contract at the King Power came to an end.
All three players possess the quality, experience and mettle to be instant starters in Emery’s starting eleven throughout the upcoming campaign but Villa’s business may certainly continue with just under a month to go in the transfer market.
New President of Football Operations Monchi and Emery have certainly provided glaring statements already this summer, snapping players who immediately improve the Aston Villa squad.
And while the former Villarreal coach will be scouring the market for another attacker or a full-back, positions which need further improvement and reinforcement, it is the goalkeeping department which arguably needs further quality.
Not only to contend with the added demands of European football for the club but to provide a reminder to key star Martinez that there can be no room for complacency as Emery ushers in a new and exciting era at Villa Park.
The Argentinian shot-stopper, labelled “world-class” by pundit Gary Neville for his influence in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, is by far and wide Emery’s number one heading into the new season and stats certainly show as much.
It comes as no real surprise to see top European clubs previously showing an interest in the 30-year-old after he’s been excellent since making the move to Villa Park from Arsenal in 2020.
The keeper has kept 39 clean sheets in 112 games for Villa, including 13 shut-outs last season as he was instrumental in the club securing a seventh-place finish in the Premier League.
The Villans had the fifth-best defensive record in the league across the campaign having only conceded 46 goals, with the South American even in the 99th percentile for stopping crosses [FBRef].
His confidence has undoubtedly sky-rocketed following his 2022 World Cup success with Argentina, with the number one recording 13 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) recorded more.
Martinez also ranked eighth in the league with 98 saves and behind only Pope (38) and when it came to sweeper clearances, with the Villa man on 34.
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 but also prove that Martinez is amongst the best goalkeepers in the Premier League – a superb incentive for Villa to make their mark both domestically and in Europe next season
But, the man behind him in the pecking order certainly isn’t the man to challenge Martinez for a starting spot and also keep the former Arsenal man on his toes.
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.
The Swedish international conceded 14 goals from just six outings last season and recorded only one clean sheet in the 2-0 win against Spurs on New Year’s Day, whilst also recording a dreadful -1.66 goals prevented [SofaScore] showing he isn’t the quality shot-stopper that can match Martinez’s quality.
It is abundantly clear Martinez needs healthy competition in goal and Olsen certainly isn’t the man to provide it and provide a boost to the Argentine’s consistency levels.
With third-choice option Jed Steer yet to feature in an Aston Villa matchday squad due to an Achilles injury, the club’s goalkeeping reserves are limited and if Emery wants to enhance this team in order to match the Premier League’s elite, he would certainly need a quality and well-versed goalkeeping back up.
It’s time to show that ambition again in the transfer market.
In other Aston Villa news, the club are looking to sign another midfielder but could be set to miss out.