Emiliano Martinez completes transfer away from Arsenal

Emiliano Martinez has completed a £20million transfer to Aston Villa.

The Argentine, who has been at the Emirates since 2012, has signed a four-year contract with the Villans.

Martinez got a taste of regular first-team football last season when Bernd Leno suffered an injury towards the end of the campaign.

The 28-year-old proved himself more than capable of keeping goal in the Premier League, and was between the sticks as Arsenal won the FA Cup and Community Shield.

But Gunners boss Mikel Arteta immediately returned Leno to the first team for Arsenal’s opening game of this season against Fulham on Sunday.

Martinez is hoping for regular opportunities at Villa Park under Dean Smith.

Sign up for the brilliant new Mirror Football newsletter!

From the latest transfer news to the agenda-setting stories, get it all in your email inbox.

Put your email at the top of this article or follow the instructions on this link.

The Villa boss said: “We are really pleased with the signing of our new goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

“We know how highly Arsenal rated him and we watched his outstanding performances last season in a trophy-winning top side.

“We moved for Emi when we saw the opportunity, as it is rare to be able to buy a top class goalkeeper who hasn’t yet reached their peak age and who can therefore be a key player for our Club for the long term.”

Martinez put out an emotional message on his Instagram account on Tuesday evening in which he confirmed that he’d be leaving Arsenal permanently after six loan moves away.

“Now I’ve had that feeling where, I had my chance at Arsenal,” he said

“Season after season I was always trying to come back to the club I love to try and have my chance.

“I’ve done that, I waited through all the parts of frustration because football is not always easy like everyone thinks.

“I said to my family, I said to my team-mates, this is my time. I’m 27-years-old, I’ve got loads of game on my back, the talent was there, the power was there, I just needed the confidence and I had it.”

* Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip