The Premier League explained why Emiliano Martinez was sent away for Aston Villa in their decisive collision with Manchester United. Martinez, 32, stormed out of his goal after a weak pass by teammate Matty Cash and clattered in the United Striker Rasmus Hojlund far beyond his area.
Referee Thomas Bramall had no choice but to show the goalkeeper a red card with the score 0-0 just before half-time. The Match Center account of the Premier League on X soon posted: “The call of Red Card of the referee to Martinez for refusing an obvious Goal Scor -Kans (Dogso) was checked and confirmed by VAR.”
Martinez became the first goalkeeper to be sent in the Premier League this season in what his last game could be for Villa. The Argentina International is interesting for clubs in Saudi Aarabia, while he is also connected to United and former Arsenal team.
After their last home game of the season against Tottenham last Friday, Martinez was emotional when he applaud the supporters of Villa. After his broadcast, manager Unai Emery Marco Asensio sacrificed to set up the second-choice goalkeeper Robin Olsen.
The Swede contract will be going next month and he also seems to be left to leave Villa Park. Villa had to win and hope that the games dropped above them to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Martinez may not be part of the European adventure that they will be next season. Emery, however, spotted suggestions that the trip to Old Trafford would be the last game of the 32-year-old in a Villa shirt.
“Really not!” Emery told TNT Sports Pre-Match. When asked whether Martinez would stay in the club, the Spaniard brickedly replied: “See you later.”
Emery had said after the Tottenham game: “We will see it. Of course it is the last game here [this season]And I don't know. We will see about the team, the players, but of course they respond to the field. “
In anticipation of Sunday's collision with United, Emery insisted that Martinez was in the correct state of mind. “He is so focused, he showed Tottenham last week, he performs very well now that he is at his best moment,” he said.
“It is difficult for the team, it has been difficult for some players, because I was struggling five months ago with not enough results that we have achieved at the time. But now I am so happy with the individual reactions of the players, how the team is focused in every match – and some players with some speculation.
“But my only speculation is to play on Sunday, to be ready for Sunday and to get our best performance on Sunday.”