Arsenal finalise deal with 24-year-old shot-stopper

Arsenal have confirmed on their official website that goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has signed a new long-term deal at the club, as he looks to usurp Petr Cech and David Ospina as number one in the future.

The 24-year-old has been at the Emirates since 2010, and made his debut for the Gunners in a League Cup tie against Coventry back in 2012.

Since then, the former Argentina Under-20 international has made four league appearances for Arsene Wenger’s side, and three further appearances in the League Cup.

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Two of those have come in this season’s competition, where Martinez has helped the club reach a quarter-final clash with Southampton next week, a game in which he’s likely to start between the sticks.

Martinez has also experienced the Champions League during his time with Arsenal, appearing against both Anderlecht and Borussia Dortmund in 2014, impressively keeping a clean sheet against the latter in a 2-0 win for the Gunners.

Loan spells at Oxford, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, and Wolves in the last few years have given the 24-year-old vital experience in English football, and he’s clearly expecting to challenge both Cech and Ospina for the number one jersey in the next few seasons.

Although it’s unconfirmed how long the new deal is for, Martinez clearly sees his future at Arsenal, and the highly-rated Argentine will be hoping to get a regular first team chance sooner rather than later.