Emiliano Martinez restrained after Arsenal defeat
Emiliano Martinez had to be physically restrained following Aston Villa’s comprehensive 4-1 loss to Arsenal on Tuesday evening after home supporters taunted him in the tunnel, reports BritPanorama.
Fan footage captured the 33-year-old goalkeeper reacting furiously to taunts from Arsenal fans as he made his way down the tunnel at full-time. Initially, Martinez appeared to dismiss the provocation with a smile before seemingly preparing to confront the supporters directly. One fan could be heard shouting, “You’re not dancing now are you?”
Known for his provocative celebrations, Martinez was pulled away before the situation could escalate further at his former club. The World Cup winner endured a difficult night, especially for Arsenal’s opener when Gabriel Magalhaes outmuscled him at a corner, leading to a failure to collect the ball.
Martin Zubimendi doubled Arsenal’s advantage, while Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus completed the rout before Ollie Watkins scored a late consolation for Villa in stoppage time. The heavy defeat ended Villa’s impressive run of 11 consecutive victories, with Martinez unable to prevent the collapse at the Emirates.
Martinez struggled to recover after the shaky start, eventually taking to social media post-match but refraining from addressing the confrontation with supporters. Instead, he posted a photograph of Gabriel’s goal with the caption: “The best team won today, we still in good position for the 2nd part of the season. #elbowallow,” a hashtag suggesting he felt Gabriel had used his elbow unfairly in the build-up.
Having spent a decade at Arsenal, he left for Villa Park in a deal worth up to £20 million after Bernd Leno’s return from injury limited his playing opportunities. Arsenal supporters reveled in seeing Martinez unsettled, with many expressing their delight at his reaction on social media.
Despite his past loyalty, Martinez has fallen out of favor with many Arsenal fans since his departure. Meanwhile, Villa’s manager Unai Emery was also at the centre of attention after missing the post-match handshake with Mikel Arteta, although both managers insisted there was no issue between them.
Arsenal are next in action against Bournemouth on Saturday, while Villa will face Nottingham Forest at the same time.
In football, emotions often run high, but the lines between rivalry and respect can blur, reminding us how the sport can divide even the most loyal players from their past.
