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“Playing out from the back, and when Arsenal are pressing, you have to have nerves of steel. Martinez remained unshakeable throughout this entire fixture.”
“However, he is a goalkeeper first and foremost and when he was called on to produce something special he did precisely that.”
“His point-blank save from Leandro Trossard at a crucial stage in the match was a turning point in the game and Villa never looked back. This is a team and a manager who look like they might be going places.”
Arsenal FC v Aston Villa - Premier League
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Emi Martinez kept Aston Villa in the game against Arsenal
Having spent eight years of his career at Arsenal, it was only right that Martinez showed the Gunners what they were missing with his quality.
Making four saves, the 31-year-old prevented an extraordinary 1.98 goals on Sunday, keeping a clean sheet against a side that was unbeaten in 2024 before playing Villa.
As highlighted by Crooks, it was Martinez’s instinctual save to deny Leandro Trossard a certain goal that shaped the game, with Arsenal’s threat slowing down almost in a state of shock at the Argentine’s defiance between the sticks.
In a contest that meant so much to both sides, the Villa shot-stopper was at his brilliant best to ensure the Villans took three points back to Birmingham, earning his spot in Crooks’ Team of the Week.
Ben Foster names the one Aston Villa player who has been ‘so important’ to Unai Emery
Tue 16 April 2024 09:00
Unai Emery has a host of talent in his Aston Villa squad, with former Premier League ace Ben Foster speaking highly of one of the Villans’ most important players.
What a season it’s been for Aston Villa so far, with just five games left to determine whether Unai Emery’s Champions League dream will become a reality.
While the form of late hasn’t been the best from the Villans this term, Sunday’s outstanding 2-0 victory over Arsenal has redeemed the trust in the players, who outplayed Mikel Arteta’s title challengers.
The victory at the Emirates was impressive not only due to the performance and tactical mastery from the visitors, but the lack of resources available to Emery ahead of the match.
In midfield, the Spaniard was without his trusted pivot of Boubacar Kamara and Douglas Luiz, presenting the opportunity to see a significant misbalance unfold in the engine room, which, fortunately, never happened.
That being said, Villa have missed the presence of Kamara since he sustained his season-ending ACL injury back in February, with former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster dubbing the Frenchman as one of Emery’s most important players.
Ben Foster sings the praises of Aston Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara
Speaking on the Premier League’s official YouTube channel, Foster provided some analysis on Kamara when discussing the best young midfielders in the league.
Signed on a free transfer from Marseille in 2022, acquiring the Frenchman has proved to be essential at Villa Park, with his skillset complimenting that of Luiz perfectly, making his injury even more of a tough pill to swallow, as relayed by Foster.
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“He’s been so important for Aston Villa. This season he’s really flourished, I’m gutted for his injury.”
“It’s so hard to find them, to be a CDM you’ve got to be so selfless, you know you’re not going to be getting forward and scoring goals and getting the headlines, you have to do the dirty work, be humble and let your ego go to the side and work for the team.”
The former West Brom shot-stopper went on to outline what he believes is one of Kamara’s ‘best attributes’, explaining what makes him so vital to Emery’s style of play at Villa Park.
“One of his main attributes is when he does get hold of the ball, he’s very strong with it. He’s very good at progressing with it as well, which I think is quite integral to the way that Villa play as well.”
“They’ve got very attacking wing backs knowing that when he [Kamara] pushes forward, he’s not going to give it away, and that is probably, integral to the way that Villa play.”
Sheffield United v Aston Villa - Premier League
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Aston Villa will look forward to having Boubacar Kamara back with the squad
Although Villa have done a stellar job at coping without Kamara, Emery will be keen to have the 24-year-old back amongst the squad next season.
The Frenchman has been one of the primary reasons that the manager has been able to put his stamp on the squad, with his ability to play between the channels hard to find in other players within the side.
As provided by WhoScored, no player averages more tackles (2.2) and interceptions (1.1) per game than Kamara, with the France international also ranking second best at the club with his average of 1.2 dribbles per game this term.
It’s a great shame for the midfielder to have sustained such a serious injury after becoming such a vital part of Emery’s set-up, with next season poised to be a crucial one.
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