---
title: "Martinez called a ‘signing of the season’ contender"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2021/03/05/brad-friedel-aston-villa-emiliano-martinez/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2021-03-05T15:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-03-05T15:00:00Z"
---

# Martinez called a ‘signing of the season’ contender

Emiliano Martinez has impressed between the sticks since joining Aston Villa on a four-year deal from Arsenal last summer and Brad Friedel hailed the “brilliant” 28-year-old as a “signing of the season” contender.

Martinez has made 25 Premier League appearances this season, conceding 27 goals and keeping 13 clean sheets , so he’s closing in on Friedel and Mark Bosnich’s record 15 clean sheets in the top-flight for Villa ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/torhueterchronik/verein/405/plus/0?wettbewerb_id=GB1)) with 13 more games to play.

Friedel had nothing but praise for the uncapped Argentine, telling [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/2426745/2021/03/05/brad-friedel-interview-football/): “He’s doing brilliant. One of the signings of the season.” Villa [paid](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54174157) around £17m for Martinez, but he looks a snip given how well he’s performed.

The 28-year-old has saved 78.6% of 117 shots on target faced in the league and has conceded seven fewer goals than expected ([FBRef](https://fbref.com/en/players/7956236f/Emiliano-Martinez)). Martinez made 38 appearances in 10 years at Arsenal, keeping 16 clean sheets ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emiliano-martinez/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/111873)), so he could break his decade-long Gunners record in only his first season since leaving.

**READ ASTON VILLA VERDICT**

Martinez was somewhat a gamble given his overall lack of playing time at Arsenal and the lofty asking price, but he’s been more than worth it. The 28-year-old is [Villa’s most expensive goalkeeper](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/transferrekorde/verein/405/plus/0/galerie/0?saison_id=&pos=Torwart&detailpos=&altersklasse=&w_s=) by some distance but may end up being the best too.