---
title: "Ray Parlour says Emi Martinez was an ‘absolute snip’ for Villa"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2021/02/17/ray-parlour-emiliano-martinez-aston-villa-absolute-snip/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2021-02-17T14:30:00Z"
modified: "2021-02-17T14:30:00Z"
---

# Ray Parlour says Emi Martinez was an ‘absolute snip’ for Villa

[Emiliano Martinez](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/02/16/garth-crooks-emi-martinez-top-4-club-transfer-plea-villa/) has been making the headlines recently after a [Man of the Match](https://twitter.com/SkySportsStatto/status/1360713175230988294?s=20) performance in [Aston Villa’s 0-0 draw with Brighton](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/february/Brighton-0-0-Aston-Villa/), and Ray Parlour was the latest to hail the 28-year-old.

He believes that Arsenal could regret selling Martinez to Villa and said that the goalkeeper seems “an absolute snip” at [£20m](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-20m-emiliano-martinez-transfer-goalkeeper-aston-villa-a4548496.html). Parlour, a former Gunners player himself, said on [talkSPORT Drive](https://talksport.com/radio/listen-again/1613404800/):

> I think he has been an absolutely brilliant signing for Aston Villa.
>
> When they played Brighton the other night, he was sensational (making) three or four world-class saves to keep them in the game. (Before leaving) Arsenal, he had that brilliant end to the season (and) played in the FA Cup final. Then (he) got a move to Aston Villa because he wanted to be number one.
>
> I don’t think any Aston Villa fan would think he’s done this well because he has been an absolute snip for £20 million. You talk about strikers winning you games, but goalkeepers are so important if you want to be successful. He’s getting better and better – he has everything.

Martinez made the [switch](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emiliano-martinez/transfers/spieler/111873) from Arsenal in September and has gone on to make 23 appearances in all competitions, conceding 25 goals and keeping 12 clean sheets ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emiliano-martinez/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/111873)).

The 28-year-old has saved 79% of the 105 shots on target he has faced ([FB Ref](https://fbref.com/en/players/7956236f/Emiliano-Martinez)) and has helped Villa boast the second-best defensive record in the Premier League ([SoccerStats](https://www.soccerstats.com/table.asp?league=england&tid=f)).

**READ ASTON VILLA VERDICT**

Martinez has made an instant impact at Villa Park and has been [tipped](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56074334) to return to a top-four club, so his stock couldn’t be higher right now. The talented shot-stopper still has [three-and-a-half years remaining](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emiliano-martinez/profil/spieler/111873) on his contract, too, so Villa need not worry about losing him just yet.

A few eyebrows may have been raised when Villa [agreed](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/sep/16/emiliano-martinez-joins-aston-villa-from-arsenal-in-20m-deal) a deal worth £20m with Arsenal given how Martinez [never nailed down a regular starting place](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emiliano-martinez/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/111873) for long in north London, but he has done his talking on the pitch and may even be a contender for signing of the season, so Parlour is quite right to hail his impact.