Emi Martinez has waited patiently at Arsenal.

Promising youngster, not much playing time

He is only 24 years old (still pretty young for a keeper), but it feels like he has been at Arsenal for about the same length of time.

During this period, he has mainly been doing reserve, youth, and cup duty. Now is the time when he needs to either make it at Arsenal or move on.

The situation at the club with the goalkeeper position certainly makes it look as if he will get that chance.

Emi Martinez came over from Argentina in 2010 at the age of 18.

He had played for the Argentinian youth teams, and was even called into the senior squad in the summer of 2011. He seemed like a good young keeper that the club could groom into a future number 1.

Somewhere along the way though, he seemed to get lost in the shuffle.

Always just out of the mix, he had several short loan spells. These include Oxford, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, and Wolves. For some of these he was just an emergency keeper, others a squad rotation player/second keeper. He never locked down a starting place for a full season. A bit worrying, as regular first team football would probably be best for his development.

On the other hand, interspersed with these loan spells were very solid first team appearances in the cup games at Arsenal, most noticeably in the group stage of the 2014-2015 Champions League campaign. Periodically he has come in and done a solid job, only to then be buried at the end of the bench, leaving fans wondering why he isn’t playing more.

Martinez appeared to be caught in limbo.

Caught in limbo

Which would be better? Three to four appearances per season at Arsenal but with better training staff; or more play time at a lower division, but still not guaranteed starting?

He has walked this line his entire time at Arsenal. All in all, he is 24 years old and only has 40 senior appearances in league and continental play.

As usual, Emi’s best opportunities come when both senior goalkeepers are injured.

His two league appearances this year came in April, with both Cech and Ospina out.

In the first match against West Ham, he looked great. Clean sheet, completed most of his passes, and the Gunners came away with a much needed win. But to be fair, he did not face many shots that match.

The next matchday, he got the gloves again. Arsenal were hammered by Crystal Palace 3-0. The entire team was a shambles, so it is hard to place him much at fault, but still not something you want to see from a potential future number 1.

Judging from his most recent league performances, it is tough to know what to make of him and his abilities as a top flight goalkeeper.

Preseason 2017

Petr Cech, for all his worth as a goalkeeper, is absolutely rubbish at penalties.

He has not saved a single one since moving to the good side of London.

This happens to be the area that Emi Martinez excels at the most.

Following a strong overall performance in which he held the evil and formidable Arsenal nemesis, Bayern Munich, to a single goal in a preseason friendly, he was given a chance to show his prowess.

To find a winner of this one-game tournament, draws go to penalties.

Martinez saved two from the spot, allowing Arsenal to ditch the Bavarians, albeit in a preseason friendly.

Whether this was luck or skill, he still did twice what Cech has failed to do since coming to Arsenal. By no means does this indicate he is currently the better of the two, but it is possibly his most promising display yet.

This was not his first time showing this quality. Here he is with a fantastic double save while on loan at Wolves:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNCMIvqdNrM

If he could raise his overall gameplay to that of his penalty saving, he would undoubtedly be the Gunners’ top shot stopper and possibly a world class keeper.

Perfect storm

All this adds up to the perfect time for Emi Martinez to be a breakout player.

Cech is getting older, Ospina appears on the way out either through transfer or ability, and Wojciech Szczęsny has just been offloaded.

He is 24, around breakout age for most goalkeepers.

He has been in and around the team for years.

Martinez has had some highs, and some lows. He has showed tremendous ability and confidence in the preseason so far.

Now is his time to shine.

This season, with Arsenal more than likely in the market for a keeper, he will have to make it at Arsenal or probably be sent off to lower leagues for the rest of his career.

He will get the chance this season to show his worth.

For Arsenal’s sake and for his, hopefully he is up for it.