Samir Nasri has explained why the antics of former Arsenal team-mate Emi Martinez “annoy” him, with the World Cup winner up to his old tricks.
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Argentine keeper is a world championMastered the art of saving spot-kicksCan wind up opposing players & fansWHAT HAPPENED?
Martinez, whose penalty-saving prowess has helped Argentina to Copa America glory and a global crown at Qatar 2022, is now on the books of Aston Villa. Prior to joining the Villans in 2020, he had spent 10 years at the Emirates Stadium.
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He was considered to be a quiet and unassuming character back then, but is now famed for his antagonistic behaviour that riles both opposing players and supporters. Martinez makes no apologies for that, despite picking up a reputation that can get him into trouble with match individuals, but Nasri has questioned why the 31-year-old feels the need to play up to the cameras.
WHAT NASRI SAID ABOUT MARTINEZ
Ex-France international Nasri, who spent three years on Arsenal’s books between 2008 and 2011, has told after seeing Martinez produce more penalty-saving heroics in Villa’s Europa Conference League win over Lille: “His behaviour annoys me because he wasn't like that before. I knew him when he was very young at Arsenal, he was very shy. And now, this behaviour has become his stock in trade. You stop a shot on goal, you don't need to abuse the opposition by telling them to ‘shh’. He doesn't need to do that. With his decisive save on [Randal] Kolo Muani, the penalty shootout against France, again this evening… he doesn't need to say ‘shh’ for people to talk about him.”
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Martinez collected two bookings against Lille but was not sent off, as one came in normal time and another during the shootout. He is, however, expected to serve a suspension and sit out the first leg of Villa’s semi-final clash with Greek giants Olympiacos.