EMI IS VILLA’S MISSING LINK ... SAYS SPINK
ASTON VILLA’S Champions League dreams are in the safest hands in world football.
And title-chasing Arsenal will be kicking themselves for letting Emi Martinez slip through their fingers.
That’s the view of Villans legend Nigel Spink, the Aston Villa supersub (below) when they won the European Cup in 1982.
A win over Brighton today would take Villa another step closer to a top-four finish and the final qualifying spot for the Champions League.
Spink believes that Martinez – a doubt for today with a hamstring strain – is the key man as the club eye a return to Europe’s top competition after 42 years.
Spink said: “For me, Emi is the No.1 in the world at the moment – how Arsenal let him go I’ll never know!
“His temperament is calm, he’s assured, he’s a big presence in goal. He’s a great shot-stopper and he deals with the high ball well.
“He’s a bit old-fashioned in many ways. The modern keeper is a bit slighter, but Emi’s a strong lad.
“He is the man who makes this side tick.”
Villa lost to Olympiakos in their Europa Conference League semifinal first leg on Thursday night, crashing to a 4-2 home defeat.
Martinez was not playing, after being suspended following the club’s nerve-shredding shoot-out win over Lille in the last eight.
And his absence was clearly felt on a tough night at Villa Park. But all of that will be forgotten if Unai Emery’s side finish in the top four.
“Qualifying for the Europa League would have been a fantastic achievement – making it to the Champions League would be unbelievable,” said Spink.
“The European adventure has been brilliant, the fans have absolutely loved it.
“And if they can pick up points in these last few games then they are going to qualify for the Champions League.
“That’s as good as winning a trophy.
“Winning competitions is so hard in this country but it’s about going up the ladder a rung at a time.
“Villa are probably ahead of where they thought they would be.
“We’ll have to see what the owners do next. Villa fans will hope they back the manager by bringing in three or four high-quality players.”
Keeping hold of both Emery and Martinez won’t be a problem according to Spink, who added: “I’ve just got a gut feeling. They could go and work at one of the top clubs in the world.
“But I sense they’ve both got an affinity with Villa. There’s real momentum at Villa Park.”