Former Arsenal goalkeeper Emi Martinez has gone from strength to strength since his departure four years ago, and enjoyed another iconic International moment.
The 31-year-old spent 10 years as an Arsenal player, but was loaned out for most of this time before an injury to Bernd Leno in his final season handed him an opportunity.
Martinez stepped into Mikel Arteta’s side and helped him win an FA Cup, but departed for Aston Villa as he sought out a guaranteed starting spot.
He has since shone as Argentina’s number one, and won the World Cup in Qatar last year, whilst he also helped Unai Emery’s side reach the Champions League.
Martinez has become something of a villain on the big stage with his antics, but he has also become an outstanding penalty saver, and he helped Argentina reach the Copa America semi-finals with another big performance against Ecuador in the quarter-finals.
Emi Martinez penalty heroics helps Argentina in Copa America shootout
Argentina drew 1-1 with Ecuador and took their knockout tie to penalties, but were fearing the worst after Lionel Messi missed his opening effort from the spot.
Much like Diogo Costa for Portugal against Slovenia, and Lukasz Fabianski for Arsenal in the 2014 FA Cup semi-final, Martinez saved the first two penalties of the shootout to send his side through.
Angel Mena and Alan Minda both saw their efforts saved, with Martinez going down to his left, then his right, to bail out Messi and Argentina to advance in the Copa America.
He has now faced 24 penalties for Argentina, with just 12 going in, but it was a very different story at Arsenal.
Emi Martinez failed in penalty shootout as Arsenal lost to Liverpool in Carabao Cup
One of Emery’s final games at Arsenal saw his side travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, and this became a remarkable tie as it finished 5-5 after 90 minutes, leading to a penalty shootout.
Martinez, who was the clear second-choice option at the time, was tasked with keeping Liverpool’s penalties out, but his confidence was clearly shaken after conceding five goals in normal time to a heavily rotated side.
Arsenal fans could not believe their eyes when Liverpool scored all five of their penalties, with Martinez diving the wrong way on every single one, and Dani Ceballos missing from the spot meant they were eliminated.
Martinez has improved dramatically in all areas since leaving Arsenal, but penalties are perhaps the area in which he has developed the most, and those watching in October 2019 would have never guessed he would become “the best goalkeeper in the world,” as stated by Argentine media following his latest heroics.
