Mikel glad Emi keeps Prem role
MIKEL ARTETA will have no regrets about allowing Emi Martinez to stay in the Premier League even if he has a stormer against Arsenal today.
The Argentinian spent eight years with the Gunners but made just 15 top-flight appearances for the club, nine of which came at the back end of last season with Bernd Leno out injured.
Martinez was heroic as Arsenal beat Chelsea to win the FA Cup and plenty of supporters hoped he would finally get the chance to be the No.1 that his loyalty had earned.
But it ended up being his farewell before a move to Aston Villa, where he has made a solid start.
Asked if he’d rather Martinez had moved abroad, Arteta said: “No. When we sat down we believed it was the right thing to do.
“He was still very willing to get the No.1 shirt and play regularly but we had to give him the choice to decide where he wanted to play.
“He has earned a lot of respect in this country with his performances for us in the last few months.
“He believed it was the right club for him so I was happy to let him go and make the right decision for his career.
“His start there hasn’t surprised me.”
Arsenal’s defeat by
Villa at the end of last season contributed to them missing out on the top six and Arteta is working hard to eradicate that kind of result and the display which led to it.
He said: “The word is consistency and it is what we have been lacking over the years to fight with the top teams.
“It is not about doing it once, it is about doing it every three days. We know the level in this league, everyone can beat you and if you are not at your best you will suffer.”