Ezri Konsa may be fed up of Emi Martinez, but he provides something that Aston Villa desperately need
Ezri Konsa wasn’t impressed by Emi Martinez, but I love what the Aston Villa keeper did against Newcastle United.
Villa secured a 2-0 win against Newcastle on Sunday, ending a near 21-year run without victory away at St James’ Park.
There were some hairy moments, but Martinez bailed Villa out as he halted Sandro Tonali after he danced through the backline before getting his shot off.
Emi Buendia opened the scoring, and even after a difficult afternoon for Ollie Watkins against Newcastle, the England international secured the three points for the claret and blue outfit.
Konsa put in a stellar showing, but it is his actions towards Martinez in the second half that caught the eye of the watching Villa faithful.
Ezri Konsa unimpressed by Emi Martinez gamesmanship vs Newcastle United
Martinez has come under fire for Villa this season, with various mistakes being pretty unforgivable in the context of the season.
Errors against Everton and Liverpool spring to mind this season, with the Argentine costing his side points on a regular basis.
I cringe and grow increasingly frustrated with him each and everytime he does this, especially after his Manchester United-based antics over the summer.
But then along comes a trip to Newcastle to face the Magpies, and Martinez returns to his best and puts in a stunning performance.
His showing was full of saves and important catches, but also the gamesmanship that every Villa fan has grown to know and love.
Even with that being the case, Konsa was caught on camera looking visibly frustrated when Martinez went down holding his back with 13 minutes to go.
It looks as if the Englishman is fed up with the goalkeeper’s antics, but I think he provides something that the Villans really need.
Martinez does something that Aston Villa need
Villa aren’t a nasty team, but to be successful, you need to have a bit of that in you.
No team ever won titles or cups by being nice to play against, they won by being tough and frustrating to battle against.
When a tackle flies in, there is very rarely a Villa player in the face of a referee, where players like Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United or Gabriel at Arsenal won’t let a decision go easily.
That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it is the sort of gamesmanship that the Villans lack at times, while Martinez thrives on it.
The 33-year-old was able to properly get under the skin of the Newcastle fans and cause an atmosphere that went against the home side in the end.
Who else in that Villa squad was going to do something to turn the crowd? No-one.
Konsa may have been annoyed, but the ability to know exactly when to take a chance and waste some time, while raising frustrations in the stands, is something that Martinez offers Villa, and they desperately need.
Martinez performance saved Aston Villa vs Newcastle United
The Argentine may have come under pressure in recent weeks and months, but put any concerns aside in the north east.
Martinez was simply unstoppable on the day as he kept out 1.47 expected goals by making four saves at St James’ Park.
His ability to calm down the game was also hugely important, with six high claims and one punch being exactly what the Villans needed.
The keeper also won 100 per cent of his duels, something which is unusual for a keeper, but he excelled nonetheless against the Magpies.
His overall performance made a telling difference, and without his showmanship and abilities in goal, it could have been a totally different day for the Villans.
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