Arsenal Made Big Mistake In Selling ‘Perfect’ Player’- David James

Premier League legend David James claims that Arsenal made a mistake in selling one player under Mikel Arteta.

When discussing the lack of characters, James suggests that Arsenal’s decision to sell Emi Martinez to Aston Villa in 2020 has proved a costly error for the Gunners, with the Argentine’s personality essential for any successful side.

“It’s interesting, when you look at Premier League goalkeepers, I would say over a number of years now – five, 10 years or whatever – there’s not many characters,” James said on the Seaman Says podcast via Betway. “Whereas if you go prior to that, there were characters around in the game for whatever reason.

“I think he’s a monster, in the sense that if the ball is in the air he will come for it,” James added. “There was the free kick from Bruno Fernandes [against Manchester United last weekend], even though he didn’t have to save it, he was there. There’s not many ‘keepers that I see in the Premier League now who are capable of getting to the top corner, weirdly. Just think about the last time you saw a top corner save.

“I’ve had this discussion with goalie coaches. The pitches are hard, and I think because the pitch is so hard, you don’t get the purchase that you would have done on a softer pitch to be able to really explode. You’re more likely to slip, so you end up diving slightly differently.

“It used to be quite common, a goalie would spring along, bang, bang, top corner. Now the shot that just goes past the top corner, you’re thinking the keeper’s not ever getting there. Martinez will get there because he can do it.”