EMI MARTINEZ IN FURIOUS ARSENAL TUNNEL INCIDENT AS ASTON VILLA STAFF FORCED TO STEP IN

Emiliano Martinez was held back after a heated tunnel incident following Arsenal's 4-1 victory over Aston Villa as the goalkeeper responded to taunts from home fans

Martinez is ushered down the tunnel after being goaded by Arsenal fans(Image: @jaikes12/X)

Emiliano Martinez had to be restrained as he became involved in a heated tunnel confrontation following Arsenal's 4-1 victory over Aston Villa at the Emirates.

It turned out to be a frustrating evening for Martinez on his sixth return to Arsenal, having spent a decade at the club before departing to join Villa in September 2020. The Argentina international shipped four goals in 30 devastating second-half minutes as the Gunners demolished Villa to send a statement in this season's Premier League title race.

Gabriel Magalhaes broke the deadlock in the 48th minute before Martin Zubimendi doubled the advantage shortly afterwards. Leandro Trossard then extended the lead to three before Gabriel Jesus put the finishing touches on the scoreline to net Arsenal's fourth. Ollie Watkins managed to grab a consolation for Unai Emery's Villa in added time but it proved far too little too late. As Arsenal rampaged through the second half, Martinez appeared increasingly agitated.

Emiliano Martinez endured an evening to forget as he shipped four goals to Arsenal(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

His temper certainly wouldn't have been soothed when "you're just a s*** David Raya" rang out from the Arsenal supporters in his direction.

While Martinez seemed to maintain his composure on the field, his emotions got the better of him as he made his way down the tunnel after a clash with the home crowd.

"You're rattled! F*** off, f*** off, f*** off! He's so rattled. Wakey wakey!' an Arsenal supporter could be heard shouting at Martinez. Martinez, clearly incensed, was seen retaliating to the Arsenal fans' taunts and had to be escorted down the tunnel before things could escalate further.

During his decade-long stint at Arsenal, Martinez made 38 first-team appearances, with 23 of those in his final full season in north London. When Bernd Leno was sidelined due to injury, the Argentine stepped up, helping the Gunners clinch the FA Cup in August 2020 with some key saves in their 2-1 victory over Chelsea in the final.

However, just a few weeks later, Martinez was sold as he sought more regular playtime, which Villa provided under Dean Smith's management. The former Reading and Wolves loanee has since spent over five years in the West Midlands, playing in more than 200 matches across all competitions.

Internationally, Martinez played a pivotal role in Argentina's World Cup triumph in December 2022. He won the tournament's Golden Glove award after maintaining three clean sheets throughout the Qatar competition and has been named FIFA's Best Men's goalkeeper twice.

Next on the agenda for Villa and Martinez is a home match against struggling Nottingham Forest this Saturday.

As for Arsenal, they're off to Bournemouth in an attempt to widen their lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently five points ahead of second-place Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

- Kieran King

JADON SANCHO OFFERED MAN UTD TRANSFER ESCAPE ROUTE AS EMI MARTINEZ UPDATE EMERGES

Aston Villa are interested in signing Manchester United outcast Jadon Sancho, who has been offered to the Midlands club, as United look to sign goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez

Aston Villa have set their sights on signing Manchester United's sidelined player Jadon Sancho, amidst United's own interest in goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Martinez, 32, has been keen to join United for several months, but the club's earlier loan enquiry was swiftly dismissed.

The Manchester Evening News reported in January that United were exploring options to strengthen their goalkeeping squad, with Senne Lammens of Royal Antwerp also on their radar.

Roma have been leading the race to sign Sancho for several weeks, but have yet to make any headway in negotiations. Sancho, 25, had previously identified Italy as his most likely exit strategy and held discussions with Juventus earlier in the summer.

However, Villa have now emerged as a potential destination, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Both Martinez and Sancho are on similar wages, with the former earning £200,000 per week. Sancho's salary is roughly the same due to a Champions League penalty clause that reduces a United player's wage by 25% if they fail to qualify for the competition.

Martinez, who won the World Cup, was notably absent from the Villa squad during their 3-0 home defeat by Crystal Palace on Sunday. Villa coach Unai Emery conceded that Martinez was not focused.

Villa have struggled to bolster their squad this summer and are yet to secure a win after their first three Premier League matches.

Sancho hasn't made a Premier League appearance for United in over two years. Chelsea paid a £5million penalty fee to avoid signing Sancho at the end of his season-long loan last term.

The winger is in the last ten months of his contract with United, and it's highly unlikely that the club will activate the one-year extension if Sancho remains under contract.

Sancho also made a deadline day switch from United to Chelsea last year.

- Samuel Luckhurst and Will Schofield

KHVICHA KVARATSKHELIA GENIUS HELPS GIVE PSG CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EDGE AGAINST ASTON VILLA

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored one of the great Champions League goals as Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-1 in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.

PSG beat Aston Villa in Champions League match
AFP

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored one of the great Champions League goals as Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-1 in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Wednesday. Morgan Rogers had given Villa a 35th-minute lead at the Parc des Princes to silence the home fans, but PSG were quickly back level through a fine strike by Desire Doue. Kvaratskhelia then took centre stage with a stunning effort on 49 minutes, before Nuno Mendes added a crucial third in stoppage time, giving PSG a significant two-goal cushion to take into the return in Birmingham next Tuesday.

Having eliminated Liverpool in the last 16, Luis Enrique's team are now in a very strong position to reach the semi-finals for the second season running.

"We are happy with this result but we have to keep going because there is the second game and the job is not finished," Kvaratskhelia told broadcaster Canal Plus, before claiming he could not clearly recall his sublime goal.

"It was was OK. I didn't remember it exactly but now I will check inside so I will see if it was quite good."

Villa, who had Prince William in the Paris crowd backing them along with his son George, will need to produce a memorable fightback at home if they are to make the last four of Europe's elite club competition for the first time since they lifted the trophy in 1982.

"We managed to get the opening goal which is about the hardest thing to do, but we were up against a great team. You have to admit that," Lucas Digne told Canal Plus.

"They produced moments of brilliance. Now we have to do the job in the return. We will have to open up a bit more but it is still doable."

Villa can perhaps take inspiration from what happened the last time their coach Unai Emery faced Luis Enrique in the Champions League.

Back in 2017, Emery's PSG thumped Barcelona 4-0 at home in the first leg of a last-16 tie, only to collapse at the Camp Nou and lose 6-1 to Luis Enrique's Catalans.

The latter, now hoping to lead PSG to their first Champions League crown, was without suspended skipper Marquinhos here and also left Bradley Barcola on the bench for the first time in this European campaign.

That meant Doue and Kvaratskhelia completed the home attack along with leading scorer Ousmane Dembele.

Villa came into this game on a run of seven straight wins in all competitions, as Marco Asensio, on loan from PSG, started as a substitute against his parent club.

The visitors were happy to sit back and the first half took place almost exclusively in their half, with Dembele setting the tone from a sizzling early strike which was tipped over by Emiliano Martinez.

The Argentinian goalkeeper, a hero for his country in the 2022 World Cup final against France, was loudly jeered throughout and had a busy night.

However, Villa snatched the lead against the run of play in the 35th minute.

Captain John McGinn robbed Mendes just inside the Villa half and picked out Marcus Rashford on the left. He then slipped in Youri Tielemans whose ball across the face of goal left Rogers with an easy finish.

PSG hit back quickly, with Martinez nearly spilling a Doue shot over the line before the equaliser came from the resulting corner.

The hosts worked the ball from right to left to Doue, who stepped towards the penalty area before curling a wonderful shot beyond Martinez into the far corner.

It was the latest moment of magic from the 19-year-old, who recently won his first France cap, but his strike was eclipsed by that of Kvaratskhelia as the Georgian put PSG ahead four minutes after half-time.

Emery replaced Matty Cash at half-time with the right-back having been booked for a foul on Kvaratskhelia.

Axel Disasi came on but had no answer as Kvaratskhelia was released on the left by Fabian Ruiz and advanced into the box.

The former Napoli winger mesmerised Disasi as he rolled his studs over the ball before smashing a thunderous shot past Martinez, in off the near post.

Villa sent on a raft of substitutes including Asensio as they tried to find a way back into the game, while Achraf Hakimi had an effort disallowed for the hosts.

Dembele then released Mendes to round Martinez and make it 3-1 in stoppage time, leaving PSG with one foot in the semi-finals. 

- Agence France-Presse

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