While Aston Villa have been free-scoring since Unai Emery’s arrival having adopted an exciting brand of football, there is still a decisive difference being made at the other end of the pitch.
Admittedly, our defensive record hasn’t always been ideal and we have leaked poor goals for consistent stretches at times, but in the form of the best goalkeeper in the world, Emiliano Martinez has been hugely influential in our progress and success over the last two years and beyond.
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The Argentine shot-stopper has continued to prove why he is indeed the best this season, having kept four clean sheets in 11 appearances across all competitions, while making 36 saves from 46 shots faced to give him a 78% total saves percentage along with 10 clearances, one penalty save and a 77 percent pass completion rate.
We’ll touch on his distribution later, but beyond the figures, it’s clear for all of us to see just how decisive he is week in and week out, as he continues to make vital saves in games that prove to be big moments and catalysts for our wins.
Whether it’s to protect our lead at Fulham or fend off early Bologna pressure over the last week, he steps up and delivers when needed, and that’s all before we add his leadership, winning mentality and experience to the mix.
Of course, he’ll make the odd mistake. Name a goalkeeper who doesn’t. When Unai Emery said the 32-year-old is the best goalkeeper in the world last weekend, he wasn’t lying.
Having that determination and ability to set a standard from the back sends that message through the spine of the team, and while he can be an eccentric character on occasion, he’s a difference maker and a leader in this Villa squad who demands more from his teammates and isn’t afraid of making his ambition known.
Martinez has always been an elite shot-stopper, we’ve seen that throughout his time with us. However, the improvement and development he’s made with the ball at his feet in possession to help build our play from the back just shows his focus and drive as a player to get better as an individual to help the team.
After some early mistakes following the appointment of Emery, question marks were raised over whether or not he was suited to the style that the Villa boss was trying to implement. He’s dismissed those and is more than comfortable in inviting pressure and a high press before distributing the ball to teammates in the space that approach creates further up the pitch.
With our desire to play with a high defensive line, that also put pressure on Martinez to come out swiftly and decisively to sweep up danger if the opposition gets in behind our backline.
He’s made major improvements in that area of his game too, and we’ll no doubt see him continue to raise his own level in the coming months to help us continue to build on what we’ve done thus far.
Martinez is a critical part of what we’re doing and he’ll be integral in helping us get to where we still want to be. Others may fairly make the headlines as we continue to play with class and flair going forward, but we have a player in between the posts who answers the call whenever he’s needed.