Aston Villa given boost to Champions League hopes as Unai Emery shares new Emi Martinez update
Aston Villa and Unai Emery will be keen to quickly get back to winning ways against Brighton following their disappointing defeat to Olympiacos in the Europa Conference League.
The Villans make the trip to the south coast on Sunday (5 May) having not lost in any of their last four Premier League matches. A win against the Seagulls would massively help Villa’s Champions League chances.
While morale may be low both in the dressing room and among fans at Villa Park, Birmingham Live journalist John Towley’s latest update from Emery over Emi Martinez could lift supporters’ spirits.
Writing on X on Friday (3 May) Towley said: “Unai Emery confirms Emi Martinez could be available to face Brighton on Sunday. The goalkeeper is due to train tomorrow and will travel to the south coast with his AVFC teammates if he feels comfortable after the session.”
Will Emi Martinez play for Aston Villa and Unai Emery against Brighton?
Martinez missed the Villans’ defeat to Olympiacos and the second half of the draw with Chelsea and while Robin Olsen made some reasonable saves in both games, Emery missed the Argentine stopper’s quality.
In the first half against the Blues, the 31-year-old only made one save, but faced an xG on 0.68 while managing to keep a clean sheet. On top of that, he made three ball recoveries and acted as a sweeper once, according to Fotmob.
With the ball at his feet, the World Cup winner was similarly impressive, finding a teammate in claret and blue with 84 per cent of his attempted passes, two of which were sprayed over a long distance.
In Villa’s crucial Premier League win over Arsenal at the Emirates, Martinez was even more impressive. The former Gunner made four saves and faced an xG of 1.98 on his way to yet another Premier League clean sheet.
The Argentine received plenty of praise from pundits and supporters alike for his work in possession as well in that game as he absorbed the pressure on the ball as he completed 75 per cent of his 56 attempted passes, more than either Youri Tielemans or John McGinn managed.
When compared to other keepers in the Premier League, Martinez places in the top 11 per cent for expected goals faced compared to goals against, over-performing by an average of 0.21 goals every 90 minutes, according to Fbref.
When extrapolated over a 38-game season, that means the Villa stopper conceded almost eight fewer goals than he statistically should. That sort of record is what has allowed Emery’s side to push for the Champions League.
On top of that, when the 31-year-old plays Villa more often than not win. Compared to his peers in the division, Martinez places in the 86th percentile for wins per 90 minutes this term, with an average of 0.58 a game.
Will Unai Emery and Villa qualify for the Champions League?
Villa will know after Tottenham’s defeat to Chelsea on Thursday (2 May) night that they are in an excellent position to book their place in the top four of the Premier League, especially if they beat Brighton on Sunday.
Three points on the south coast would mean that the Villans have one foot in next season’s Champions League and should Martinez be fit and ready to start, Emery and the supporters will fancy their chances even more.
In other Aston Villa news, a new exit prediction has been made over Leon Bailey after an “outstanding” Villa Park development
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