‘He’s a monster’ – David James says Mikel Arteta made mistake selling Arsenal star

David James feels Mikel Arteta made a mistake by selling’monster’ Emiliano Martinez, claiming he would be ‘ideal’ for the current Arsenal squad.

Argentina World Cup winner Martinez spent over a decade with Arsenal’s first squad, although he only made 38 appearances after losing the race to become the club’s number one.

Martinez had loan stints at different EFL clubs during his stay in north London before being moved to Aston Villa for £17 million in 2020.

Arteta thought Bernd Leno would be his first-choice goalkeeper that season, but the German international was shortly replaced by £30 million acquisition Aaron Ramsdale.

Ramsdale originally impressed at the Emirates Stadium, proving his critics wrong after joining from relegated Sheffield United, but he also found himself on the bench after Arteta approved Arsenal’s transfer for current No. 1 David Raya.

Raya has established himself as one of the finest shot-stoppers in the Premier League since joining Arsenal, but former England goalkeeper James feels Martinez’s sale was a mistake.

Martinez is also considered as one of the greatest in the industry, having thrived at Aston Villa (now a Champions League team) and played a key role in Argentina’s World Cup victory in Qatar.

‘It’s fascinating to look at Premier League goalkeepers over the years; there aren’t many characters,’ James stated on the Seaman Says podcast with Betway. ‘Before that, there were more characters for whatever reason.

‘He [Emiliano Martinez] has character; he’s a big-game player. He wants to play in the biggest games.

‘When you look at the Raya and Ramsdale scenario at Arsenal, Martinez was definitely allowed to leave because of Bernd Leno, a competent goalkeeper.

‘But I believe Martinez would have been the ideal goalkeeper for Arsenal right now. I think he is a monster.Surprisingly, there aren’t many goalkeepers in the Premier League nowadays who can reach the top corner.

Meanwhile, Peter Schmeichel, widely regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in Premier League history, feels Martinez’s performances at Aston Villa have proven Arsenal manager Arteta incorrect.

‘Martinez, I believe he has proven Arsenal wrong, for sure,’ Schmeichel stated on the Stick to Football podcast. ‘I think he has a huge personality and is really helpful to the Villa squad.

Will he be able to accomplish the job at Manchester City? I do not know. To be honest, I do not know. But he’s a winner, clearly a World Cup winner, and he recently won the Copa [America]. So he is getting there as well.Arsenal had the greatest defensive record in the Premier League last season and have only surrendered six goals this season.

Arsenal, trying to win the Premier League for the first time since 2004, came from behind to defeat Southampton 3-1 on Saturday.

Arteta commented on his team’s performance, saying, “The start was exceptional, the dominance, the chances.” It was amazing not to go one, two, or three goals ahead.