Credit: Tung Manh Phan

Richie Mills

Mon 27 April 2026 7:10, UK

Emi Martinez has reached a personal milestone with Aston Villa despite their 1-0 loss to Fulham.

After five wins in their last six matches in all competitions, hopes were high of another victory, this time at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

But Unai Emery‘s side were far from their best as Ryan Sessegnon’s goal settled the contest, in a result that saw them slip to fifth behind Liverpool on goal difference.

Villa are still in a very strong position to qualify for next season’s Champions League as they are eight points clear of Brighton in sixth with four matches to go.

And while Villa’s loss to Fulham was disappointing, Martinez has now chalked up his 250th appearance for the club in what has been a remarkable turnaround in recent years.

Emi Martinez continues to deliver

Martinez was at Arsenal from 2011-20 but only played 38 times for the north London team, as he went out on loan to Oxford United, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, Wolves, Getafe, and Reading.

Villa forked out £20million for him in September 2020, and since then, the Argentine has proven to be one of their best-ever signings.

The 32-year-old is a two-time Yashin Trophy winner at the Ballon d’Or, he’s won a World Cup with Argentina, and developed a reputation as one of the world’s best keepers.

He may not be at the peak of his powers anymore, but he is still, arguably, a Villa legend. Against Fulham, for instance, Sofascore rated him as their best player with a 7.7 score.

Martinez also made five saves, prevented one goal, had a passing accuracy of 83 per cent, and chalked up 13 recoveries. The Argentina international has made 85 saves this season, has a goals prevented stat of 4.25 – one of the best in the league – and has kept seven clean sheets.

Martinez will go down as one of his generation’s best keepers, perhaps alongside Liverpool’s Alisson Becker and former Manchester City stopper Ederson.

His appearance against Fulham made him only the third South American to make 250 for a single Premier League club in the competition’s history.

He has some way to go to match Alisson and Ederson on that front in the Premier League, especially as he has repeatedly been linked with a Villa Park exit.

And if Martinez does go, his place in the club’s history is secure.

One last Aston Villa swansong for Martinez?

Martinez was in tears at the end of last season as a Villa transfer exit beckoned.

The veteran was linked with a move to Manchester United, but that has since been put to bed by the addition of Senne Lammens.

Martinez still has three years left on his current Villa deal, so if he does leave, it will not be on the cheap, especially as the spectre of PSR is never too far away.

But talk of an exit may be premature, particularly as Villa are eyeing Europa League glory and a Champions League qualification.

If he helps the Villans achieve that against, he can ride off into the sunset with his head held high as a Villa great.