Martinez says he will leave Arsenal if he doesn’t get regular game time

Emiliano Martinez has indicated that he will leave Arsenal if he doesn’t get regular game time, according to Argentine radio station Continental via the Daily Mail. 

Speaking about his future at the club, he said:

“I have shown the club that I can play for them and when I return next season I need to have more games. That is the only way I will stay at Arsenal. ‘I have shown the club that I can play for them and when I return next season I need to have more games. That is the only way I will stay at Arsenal.”

“I won’t stop until I get that and if I don’t play for Arsenal, then clearly I would move on.”

The 27 year old goalkeeper joined Arsenal in 2012 and is the longest serving member of the club’s first team. He has spent a majority of his time with the Gunners out on loan and has waited patiently for a chance to be the club’s first choice goalkeeper.

He started this season as the second choice goalkeeper, behind Bernd Leno. He played in the Europa League, League Cup and FA Cup. Leno suffered an injury in Arsenal’s game against Brighton on June 20th that ruled him out for the rest of the season. In the German keeper’s absence, Martinez has deputised admirably. Since the resumption of the Premier League, he has been one of Arsenal’s standout performers. 

Martinez started the North London club’s last eight Premier League games of the season. Arsenal won five, lost just two and kept three clean sheets. He starred for the Gunners in the FA Cup that they eventually won by beating Chelsea 2-1 in the final. 

Arsenal’s second choice goalkeeper has done enough to earn a place in the first team but Bernd Leno has been superb in his first two years in North London. The German was recently voted the club’s second best player of the season. It leaves head coach Mikel Arteta with a difficult decision to make. What is clear is that both players expect to be the club’s first choice goalkeeper and whoever doesn’t make the cut is likely to look for a move.