Emi Martinez could leave Aston Villa because of issues with Unai Emery

Aston Villa were in desperate need of a new manager to reinvigorate the club after a poor start to the season under Steven Gerrard.

His fate was sealed following a drab 3-0 defeat away to Fulham last month, which prompted a hostile response from the club’s travelling fans.

Unai Emery was tempted away from Villarreal to take over and has led the club to two wins in his first three games, including a first home victory over Manchester United since 1995.

While most have welcomed Emery’s appointment, concerns remain about the strained relationship he had with goalkeeper Emi Martinez during their time at Arsenal together.

According to Football Insider, this issue is in danger of resurfacing at Villa Park and could throw Martinez’s long-term future at the club into doubt.

The 30-year-old spent a decade on the books at Arsenal but only made 38 appearances for the first team in all competitions.

He was routinely sent on loan, representing the likes of Oxford United, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers for brief spells.

His most successful loan move came at Reading in the 2018-19 season, where he made 18 appearances and helped keep a struggling side away from relegation.

That led to greater involvement at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta, culminating in an unexpected FA Cup win that left Martinez in tears.

He joined Villa for £20million that summer and has been their first-choice goalkeeper ever since, even signing a new five-year contract in January.

But Emery might have other ideas and has already been linked with a move for Sevilla’s Yassine Bounou.

For now, Martinez is focused on the World Cup and helping Argentina progress to the tournament’s latter stages.

He won his first cap last year and was quickly installed as their number one, memorably helping Lionel Scaloni’s side to win the Copa America.