Martinez went from villain to hero as, one week after making a costly error in Villa’s defeat to Liverpool, he made a superb penalty save to help them thrash Bournemouth 4-0.
The Argentina international’s future was the subject of intense speculation during the transfer window and he was left out of August’s 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, with boss Unai Emery suggesting he wasn’t fully focused.
Martinez has rebounded keeping clean sheets in three of his last four appearances and his fellow Argentina international and friend Buendia said: “For him and every single person or player when you are in a situation like he was, it’s not easy.
“But then after the break and the transfer window he has shown everyone he is really focused in the club.
“I think he showed from the first five years he has been here, he always tries his best. He is training like the best, pushing himself to the best places.
“Like anyone he can make a mistake. It happened in Liverpool but he steps up and works on it.