Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has admitted that he is not happy with Emi Martinez’s late -- and costly -- decision in Arsenal’s 4-2 win on Saturday.
Emery’s men took the lead in the fifth minute through Ollie Watkins, only for Arsenal starlet Bukayo Saka to pull back an equaliser at Villa Park.
Philippe Coutinho fired Villa back into the lead in the first half, but former Manchester City star Oleksandr Zinchenko pulled Arsenal level after the break.
Jorginho put Arsenal into the lead in injury time after his stunning strike hit the crossbar before ricocheting off Martinez’s head and landing in the Villa net.
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Arsenal sealed their 4-2 win on the day after Fabio Vieira picked out Gabriel Martinelli on the immediate counterattack from a failed Villa corner.
Speaking after the match, Emery expressed his disappointment at Martinez going up for the corner after telling him to stay back in case Arsenal broke on the counter.
“He decided himself to go up. They are the protagonists but I told him I don’t like it,” he said.
“I told him that... Maybe [goalkeepers] can score in the history one or two times, there’s more goals scored against you. [We] wasted more time than I want.”
Martinez, who is under contract with Villa until 2027, has been linked with a move away from Villa Park after Argentina’s emphatic World Cup win in Qatar.
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The 30-year-old World Cup winner has outlined his desire to play in the Champions League after winning the “most beautiful title” with his native country.
Speaking to Argentine newspaper Ole earlier this month, Martinez said: “I’m still hungry, I want to win the Champions League.
“Obviously, I would like to do it with Aston Villa, but it will be difficult because the club is still in its growth phase.
“I won the most beautiful title there is with the national team and now I’m aiming for the biggest title.
“We’ll see what will happen. I have the feeling that today I have the level to play in the Champions League and try to win it.”
Topics: Unai Emery, Emiliano Martinez, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Premier League, England, Football
Adnan Riaz