Emiliano Martinez had another rough return to north London. This one ended badly. Arsenal won heavily, and the noise followed him long after the final whistle. What happened in the tunnel only added to it. The defeat hurt. The reaction made it louder. Nights like this have become familiar for Martinez at the Emirates, where memories and emotion tend to surface quickly.
A GAME THAT SLIPPED OUT OF CONTROL
This was not a calm night for Aston Villa. Things stayed level for a while. After the break, that changed fast. Arsenal scored early in the second half. Gabriel Magalhaes got the first. Villa never really recovered.
The game opened up. Space appeared. Arsenal took advantage. Martin Zubimendi added another. Soon after, Leandro Trossard made it three. Gabriel Jesus finished the sequence. Villa were chasing shadows by then, with their defensive shape collapsing under pressure.
Ollie Watkins scored late. It barely registered. The damage was already done. Martinez spent most of the second half under pressure. His frustration was clear, both in his reactions and in the way he hurried play from the back.
NOISE FROM THE STANDS
As the goals went in, the attention shifted. Martinez became a focus. Arsenal supporters let him know it. Chants followed him. Some were personal. Some referenced Arsenal’s current goalkeeper. The volume grew as the game drifted away.
The atmosphere sharpened. What began as routine banter turned more pointed. Martinez heard it all. On the pitch, he stayed quiet. He did not react during play. That restraint took effort, but it did not last forever.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TUNNEL
As Martinez walked toward the tunnel, words were exchanged. Supporters shouted in his direction. Footage later showed the moment clearly. Martinez stopped. He turned. He responded.
Staff intervened quickly. Several people moved him along. The situation did not escalate, but it came close. The clip spread soon after. Reactions followed. Opinions too. It was not a good look. It was also not entirely surprising given the emotion of the night.
WHY ARSENAL STILL AFFECT HIM
Martinez spent ten years at Arsenal. Most of that time passed quietly. First-team chances were limited. He waited. He watched. His moment finally came in the 2019–20 season.
Injuries opened a door. He stepped in. He delivered. Arsenal won the FA Cup. Martinez played a major role, especially in the final against Chelsea. Those performances mattered. Then he left, feeling the chapter had closed too quickly.
He wanted to play every week. He wanted clarity. Villa offered that. Since then, every return to the Emirates has carried an edge. This one did too.
LIFE AFTER LEAVING LONDON
Martinez has built a strong career since leaving. He has made over 200 appearances for Villa. He is a leader there. Teammates trust him. Managers rely on him.
His biggest success came internationally. He helped Argentina win the World Cup in 2022. He won the Golden Glove. That success changed how he is seen. It also changed how he carries himself. Confidence is part of his game. Sometimes it spills over.
WHAT COMES NEXT
Villa play Nottingham Forest next. A response will be expected. Arsenal move on as well. They travel to Bournemouth. They sit five points clear of Manchester City, who still have a game in hand. The season keeps moving, even if moments like this linger.
AUTHOR’S INSIGHT
This did not feel like a moment taken out of nowhere. Martinez’s history with Arsenal still matters to him. Heavy defeats tend to expose that side. He thrives on emotion, but nights like this can tip it too far. The scoreline will fade. The tunnel moment may not.
As featured on GoonerNews.com