Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez was escorted down the tunnel after becoming embroiled in a heated confrontation with Arsenal fans
Emiliano Martinez makes his way down the tunnel after Aston Villa's heavy defeat
Emiliano Martinez makes his way down the tunnel after Aston Villa's heavy defeat
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Emiliano Martinez wasn't popular with Arsenal fans even before the tunnel incident following his Aston Villa side's 4-1 hiding at the Emirates. Video clips of the ex-Gunners goalkeeper having a fiery confrontation with home supporters have surfaced online.
As Martinez made his way towards the dressing room area, one supporter could be heard yelling: "You're rattled! F*** off, f*** off, f*** off! He's so rattled. Wakey wakey." Other fans joined in while an incensed Martinez spun round to respond before being ushered down the tunnel by a member of the Villa staff.
It wasn't the first occasion Arsenal fans had wound up Martinez since his departure in 2020, after spending 10 years at the club. Upon his return with Villa in 2021, he was met with chants of "Aaron Ramsdale, he's better than you."
Ramsdale has long since departed, with David Raya's name now being chanted instead. The jibes reflect how much Martinez's standing has plummeted amongst Arsenal fans, who haven't taken kindly to certain remarks he's made about the club.
Martinez has generally spoken warmly about his spell at the Emirates, maintaining he still "loves" the club. Yet his observations about his lack of playing time - just 38 outings across 10 years - rubbed some up the wrong way.
He told Sky Sports ahead of the match in 2021: "I just felt like they didn't trust me like they should have.
"When I was on a high, I still felt like they didn't deserve me because of the way they were treating me. They couldn't guarantee me the games I needed, so I thought that if they couldn't guarantee me the games I needed, then I'm moving on.
"They didn't say to me that I wasn't going to play, they just didn't guarantee me the games that I wanted to play.
Emi Martinez is ushered down the tunnel after being goaded by Arsenal fans
Martinez is ushered down the tunnel after being goaded by Arsenal fans
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"So, after 10 years, I decided to leave, and it was very difficult. My family didn't understand why I was leaving when I was at such a good level at Arsenal, but it was my decision to leave and I'm really proud I did it.
"It was a gamble, but I always believe that if you stay in the comfort zone, you will never reach anything in life. I decided to take the step up."
Some supporters interpreted the "step up" remark as a slight, though he likely meant progressing to become a first-choice goalkeeper. Another interview, where he discussed his financially driven reasons for initially joining Arsenal, also frustrated some fans.
Emiliano Martinez
Martinez shipped four second half goal against the Gunners
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He said: "Many people don't know that my family wasn't doing well financially at the time, and I decided to come here [to England] to help them. It wasn't a football move: it was about helping my family. And I achieved that goal."
In the end, continually speaking about his Arsenal departure, combined with testing the limits of time-wasting tactics and employing gamesmanship during games, damaged his previously warm relationship with the Gunners faithful.
After a tough night for Villa, who had been piling on the pressure on Arsenal and Manchester City, Martinez will turn his attention to Saturday's home match against Nottingham Forest, while the Gunners head to Bournemouth.
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