Arsenal have confirmed that Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has sealed his move to Spanish club Getafe on a season-long loan. The 24-year-old is regarded as a long-term prospect to fulfil the shot-stopper’s role at the Emirates, and he will now seek to earn valuable first-team experience with the La Liga outfit.
Martinez joined the north London giants from Independiente back in 2010, and he has spent loan spells with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Rotherham United, Sheffield Wednesday and Oxford United.
The Argentine made his first-team debut in a League Cup game against Coventry City during the 2012/13 season, and he was later involved in a goal scoring fest against Reading which ended 7-5 despite Arsenal trailing 4-0 at one stage.
Martinez featured in his maiden Champions League and Premier League games in 2014/15, coming against Anderlecht and Manchester United respectively, but he had to wait for his next major chance until last season where he kept a clean sheet in the 3-0 win over West Ham United. However, the Argentine was not able to put in a similar performance in the next game as his side succumbed to a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
He has mostly been used in the League Cup games by Wenger but he will now ply his trade on a temporary basis in Spain with Cech and Ospina still ahead of him in the pecking order at Arsenal.
“The 24-year-old made five first team appearances for us last season, keeping three clean sheets. He featured twice in the Premier League, impressing and keeping a clean sheet in the 3-0 home win over West Ham United,” a statement read on the club’s official website.
“Emi now heads to Spain to gain further first team experience. We’d like to wish him well for the year ahead.”
With Martinez off the club’s ranks temporarily, Matt Macey is likely to be named as the club’s third-choice goalkeeper for the upcoming campaign – providing the necessary backup to Cech, and Ospina, should an injury crisis arise.
