Emi Martinez has decided to stay with Arsenal next season, after conversations with the club and taking some time to consider his options.

Goal write that whilst on holiday in Argentina, Martinez was informed by Arsenal that they want him to be Bernd Leno’s backup next season. The goalkeeper and his representatives mulled his options over and decided it was best for him to stay another year.

Martinez reinvigorated his Arsenal career with his recent loan spell at Reading. The goalkeeper really impressed with the Championship club, helping to keep them up whilst leading the league in a number of goalkeeping stats.

The timing was perfect for Arsenal, given Petr Cech’s retirement and David Ospina’s imminent move to Napoli. Rather than signing someone new, they can now give a chance to someone who already knows the club well and won’t cost them anything.

Martinez must believe he has a chance to compete with Leno for the number one spot this season, as that was something he stressed as important in interviews earlier this year.

“I will never accept being No.2,” Martinez said in April (via Goal). “If Arsenal give me the No.2 spot, it has to be to have a chance of getting the No.1 spot otherwise I’m not going to do it. If they don’t offer me any games, I can’t stay at Arsenal. I need to play.”

Given he’s already back in training, it’s possible we’ll see Martinez making an appearance in the Arsenal XI fixture against Boreham Wood this Saturday.

The Arsenal team will be mostly u23s and u18s, but the likes of Martinez who have already come back from their holidays might also get a game.