Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang revealed the text message Emi Martinez sent to him ahead of the Arsenal clash with Aston Villa on Sunday.

Arsenal are preparing to face their former player Emi Martinez on Sunday, after selling him to Aston Villa this summer.

The goalkeeper made a strong start with his new club, though he’s coming off the back of conceding three to Leeds and four to Southampton in consecutive games. But we know Emi, and we know the emotion of his return will inspire him to play his best.

Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang revealed to the club website that he received a message from the 28-year-old earlier this week.

“Emi is a great keeper and a great guy as well,” Aubameyang said. “It’s going to be funny to play against him. He sent me a message and said, ‘Hopefully you’re going to get a penalty and I’m going to save it.’ I said, ‘OK, be ready for the chip then!’

“He knows [the secrets], but I’ve got no worries about that. He knows a lot of things, but things can change on the day of the game.”

Bernd Leno and Martinez are two of the goalkeepers competing for the best defensive record in the division. Arsenal are top right now, conceding just seven goals in seven games. But Villa are joint-fourth on nine goals conceded.

Martinez kept three clean sheets in his first four league games for the club, putting him one ahead of Leno on two this season.

Leno is ahead in all competitions, having kept a further two against Leicester City and Liverpool in the League Cup. But hopefully, he levels up the league tally later today.