Former Arsenal player Emiliano Martinez has garnered considerable acclaim after his departure from the club. At the recent Ballon d’Or ceremony, Martinez was recognized as the best goalkeeper in the world and ranked 15th among the best players globally. This achievement has ignited a debate about whether Arsenal made a significant mistake by selling him for a mere £20 million.
Martinez’s journey at Arsenal was marked by his patient wait for an opportunity. He had been with the club since joining as a teenager from Argentina’s Independiente in 2010, but he never secured a regular spot in the starting lineup. His breakthrough came in the 2019/20 season when Bernd Leno suffered a severe injury. Martinez stepped in and played a crucial role in helping Arsenal win the FA Cup and the Community Shield. This brought him recognition and led to his international career taking off.
Martinez’s rise has been remarkable, considering he now outranks well-known names like Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Lautaro Martinez, and even Arsenal’s own Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka in the Ballon d’Or rankings. His incredible progress showcases the potential he had all along, and the decision to part ways with him for such a modest transfer fee is now under scrutiny.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, made the choice to prioritize Bernd Leno over Martinez in 2020, which ultimately led to Martinez’s departure. While this decision might have seemed reasonable at the time, it has come under scrutiny given Martinez’s recent achievements. Furthermore, Arteta may face a similar dilemma with the emergence of Aaron Ramsdale, who is now vying for the starting goalkeeper position at Arsenal.
Ramsdale’s performances have raised the possibility of Arsenal selling him to a top club in the near future, potentially resulting in another scenario where a former Arsenal goalkeeper rises to become the best in the world. This situation puts Arteta’s past and potential future decisions into question, as the club watches the player they let go continue to excel on a global stage.
In retrospect, the decision to sell Emiliano Martinez for a relatively low fee now appears to be a significant misjudgment by Arsenal. His rise to become the best goalkeeper in the world underscores the talent that was overlooked, and it remains to be seen whether Arsenal will make a similar mistake with Aaron Ramsdale, who could also reach the same heights in the coming years.
