Emi Martinez prediction made ahead of Aston Villa v Preston after recent antics
Aston Villa return to domestic football with an FA Cup tie against Preston North End on Sunday.
Unai Emery’s side have to see off the Championship outfit to progress to the semi-finals of the competition, securing a trip to Wembley Stadium.
The Villans have had a good season so far, but lacked consistency at times, meaning Emery’s side cannot afford to underestimate their opponents.
Chris Sutton makes Emi Martinez admission
Although others sometimes opt to make changes to their first team in cup action, Emi Martinez will be expected to start the quarter-final.
The goalkeeper has continued to keep his standards high for Villa after picking up the FIFA best men’s goalkeeper award last year, as well as a place in the FIFA best XI.
Martinez has kept nine clean sheets across all competitions this term with Villa continuing to battle in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
| Appearances | Clean Sheets |
| 184 | 54 |
Although the West Midlands outfit are the favourites to get a result against Preston, it is players like Martinez who need to set the standard throughout the side.
He has been backed to deliver, though, with Chris Sutton full of praise, as he wrote on BBC Sport (27 March): “I’m going for Emi Martinez to keep a clean sheet, too.
“His keepie-uppie antics, external to wind up Brazil while playing for Argentina this week, were another reminder of why he is the best goalkeeper in the world.
“Anyone who can produce moments like that in a game of that magnitude deserves all the accolades you can get.”
Martinez to lift silverware with Aston Villa
Sutton isn’t the first person to put the praise on Martinez’s shoulders of late, with Dominic Solanke picking out the Villa man as the hardest to face in the Premier League.
The Argentine has continued to show his consistency between the sticks, and it is certainly an area on the pitch where Emery doesn’t have to worry about being let down.
The boss has done wonders with his Villa side this season, and with the opportunities in front of them, there would surely be some disappointment if the side did not win a trophy this term.
Martinez has lifted a trophy before, having won the World Cup with Argentina, but the goalkeeper will no doubt be eager to repeat this with his club too.
Therefore, Villa need to get the job done simply against Preston on Sunday and be ready to move on to pressing Premier League matters.
Brighton are the next league tie for Emery’s men to face before a tough tie against Nottingham Forest and then a return to Champions League action.
After having recruited in the winter transfer window, the boss should now have the squad depth to cope with the games ahead, but building momentum can always help too.