Friday, March 29, 2024

Wenger backs youngster ahead of European debut

Arsene Wenger has given Emi Martinez a vote of confidence ahead of his Champions League debut tomorrow night.

The 22 year old will play against Anderlecht in the absence of the suspended Wojciech Szczesny and the injured David Ospina (confirmed out for three months with a recurrence of a thigh injury).

And as you would expect, the manager has looked to calm any nerves by backing the Argentine who has only ever made two appearances for the club, the last of which was the remarkable 7-5 win over Reading in the Capital One Cup in October 2012.

He enjoyed a reasonable loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday last season, keeping the vastly experienced Christ Kirkland out of the side for periods and the manager believes that will stand him in good stead.

“I am extremely confident,” said Wenger, “because he has experience from Sheffield last year and when he played for us, he did very well. I have no special worry about that.

“He is two years older now, has a good experience. He has grown in stature as well. We have to make sure that we make it as comfortable a night as we can for him, and that is by defending well as a team.”

Martinez also received the backing of Jack Wilshere, who said, “He is in our dressing room now so we know him well. He is confident and has grown up quite a lot in the last two years. He learned from Sheffield, playing in a tough league, especially as a foreign keeper.

“We see him train every day, what he can do and we are confident he will be ready.”

So, good luck to the young man, and with Ospina out for some time, a good showing tomorrow night would provide some confidence in what is our only back-up for Szczesny until the new year.

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Henry GoonerLegend

good luck to this young lad, and the rest of our boys! We need to start turning in strong performances week in week out! #COYG

Wilshere for EPL player of the season

Champions league debut with a clean sheet.

WengersNoseHair

“We have little bit concern Martinez. He is lacking mental strength, and little bit experience. But he is definitely not little bit short. Well over six feet. To be completely honest, last time he was little bit complete shit.”

Is what he was never going to say.

Arsepedant

Nice one, mate. With fans like you supporting them, the team will be brimming with confidence.

WengersNoseHair

Well I try.

fabulous

Being critical of the team off the pitch doesn’t imply being critical when the team’s playing. I’d never boo the team when I watch them live (very rare occasion should I add) but like most gooners there aren’t plenty to be optimistic of the season. Chelsea are running away with it, though a Cesc burnout is likely due with no Christmas break. We are back to the awfully painful slow build up play, allowing the opponents to score on their first attack, we don’t seem to know what our best XI is and playing players out of position, and that… Read more »

MC

Haha, that did make me laugh

Ozil'z Vision

I see what you did there

Gooner stuck in Cornwall

Martinez goes round all 10 outfield Anderlecht players to score a beautiful chipped goal……….. then does both cruciates, and a lesser spotted belgian eagle swoops down and steals both his achilles tendons.

Man Manny

Under normal circumstances, this would be a sure 3pts but not so with this team. The only normalcy about this team is inconsistency. I hope we win tomorrow. On a general note, I have officially scaled down my expectation (which was rather high before the season started) to a 3rd place finish in the league, quarter final in the CL and another shot at the FA cup. I feel relieved honestly as a weight was lifted off my heart. We have the core of a good team. I hope Arsene (if he’s still around – stranger things have happened) will… Read more »

Danskin

Hope he does well. To debut in the Champions League with a clean sheet would do wonders to his confidence.

badaab

A good showing for us could see him get his Argentina debut, which surely means he will come back injured.

Gunner71

Not so concerned with playing Emi Martinez who I’m sure will do us proud. More concerned with the managers statement that “..we have to make sure that we make it as comfortable a night as we can for him, and that is by defending well as a team” – which is something thats been extremely rare so far this season. Regardless I wish the lads the best & hope that Emi Martinez has a brilliant game.

Trex d Gunner

Best of luck to the lad, but when the team is susceptible to goals for counter attacks, its not a comforting thought bringing in an untested youngster in-goal. Off topic but Pep gives his break down on how to beat Arsenal in his new book
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/11162163/Revealed-How-Pep-Guardiola-plotted-Arsenals-Champions-League-downfall.html

1GoonerDan

When did Damian change his name to Emiliano?

I know it’s Damian Emiliano Martinez but are we just ignoring the ‘Damian’ bit now?

Nobody ever tells me anything…#shuffles away to dark corner#

5 Live Crew

Hope it’s not a bad Omen!

AK74

Appears we have improved on the injury front, from 3 weeks to 3 months. Next please

Arshavin

He already has one Arg senior pcap under his belt

Streen

All hail christ kirkland!

JC

Why does stuff like this always happen to us? This is ridiculous.

Hutch

Shame the Liverpool game is on at the same time. Was hoping to see them get bent over good and proper by that greasy-haired prick, Ronaldo.

Gunner till I die.

Pearson

I am sure Wenger will set up the team in an appropriate tactically coherent fashion and we will see our ironclad defence well organised and keeping immaculate shape (as usual). Mr Wenger has just told us how brilliant our keeper is so I am especially reassured, given my confidence in Mr Wenger’s tactical nous and his ability to instill tactical discipline on a team so young. I am expecting us to win by six or seven and also to keep a clean sheet given the reassurances I have just heard from the manager. PS Did anybody watch That Arsenal reject… Read more »

Pearson

That said, I have faith in Damian or Emiliano whatever he calls hisself, (If I were a girl I would sleep with Emiliano) and I hope that Hector Bellerin continues to improve. I think he is a good (home grown) prospect.
We have a lot of talent and the manager needs to get the best out of it.
Up The Arsenal!

Joeos

How did Roma get on against Bayern last night, from your comment it seems they did well.

Tazmanian Jesus

Badaab, he already had his Argentina (senior) debut a few years back…so he’s definately a talent. i believe he can take the last step up, and why not tonight!

Gooner1886

It’s only anderlecht right? We could get away with playing me in goal… Regretably I’m also out for 3 months with a twisted beer gut

Rambos mate

Anyone else see his fluff in training yesterday lol

Alexstratz

What about Ramsey and Arteta? Surely there must be some good news. The laws of equilibrium must be respected.

deji

Well, he’s hardly gonna say ” i think he’s a piece of shit but, i have no choice” is he? Let’s face the facts, the poor guy is gonna be involved in one on ones today, due to the fact that our defence can defend for shit.

i just hope he doesn’t come out of this game as the scapegoat.

Ben

The fact Guardiola spends time in his book to discuss how beat Arsenal shows how much energy they’ve needed to put into doing so!

Pearson

On the subject of beatint The Arsenal he could have written “make phone call to Mark Hughes”. (Speak Spanish with Scottish accent)
Next phone call, get an undercover agent to phone Mourinho on the subject, (Pep rubs his eye)

palace gunner

Everyone always going on about this teams injury problems and not being able to beat big teams, can this keeper be gd for future gunner matches, coyg

kebabsmasher

Simple. Defend from the front and make it easy for the lad. Sure he’ll do just fine.

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