Emi Martinez, according to Unai Emery, has a significant role to play for Aston Villa beyond his capacity to produce clutch saves, such as in the win against Chelsea last weekend.

The club’s 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge was made possible by the number one goalie from Argentina, who made many crucial saves and recorded his 41st Premier League clean sheet. Seven of Martinez’s 13 clean sheets from last season came in Villa’s final 15 games, during which Emery’s team raced to the top of the standings by amassing 33 points out of a possible 45.

Martinez left Arsenal for Villa three years ago for just £17 million, and he has more than made up for the sum that the Gunners were willing to take in exchange for his transfer. Martinez played eight times for Martinez’s manager at Arsenal, Villa head coach Emery.

In his more than 19 years as a manager, Martinez has played for nine different teams, but Emery believes this is the finest form of any goalkeeper he has managed.

Although I’ve had some excellent goalkeepers, Emiliano Martinez is, in my opinion, the finest moment I’ve ever experienced. “He is a goalie who adapts to whatever approach we attempt to develop. He is attempting to protect our back four while being really focused. He is doing great.

“There were times when we needed him to save us, and he did it while continuing to be crucial in developing our concept and playing style. He is incredibly crucial to us because, as I previously mentioned, I believe it to be quite hard to find a goalkeeper like him.