Goalkeeper Emiliano MARTINEZ was the penalty shootout hero for Arsenal in their pre-season friendly victory against Bayern Munich.
It appears as though Argentina have yet another goalkeeper who is good at penalty shootouts. We know about Sergio ROMERO’s heroics against the Netherlands at the 2014 World Cup, the 2015 Copa America against Colombia, the penalty save against Venezuela at the 2016 Copa America and even saving VIDAL’s penalty in the shootout in the final against Chile, but he appears to have some competition in that department! Arsenal’s back-up goalkeeper Emiliano MARTINEZ saved two of Bayern’s penalty kicks to win it for his team.
With the match at 1-0 in favor of the Bavarians, IWOBI scored late in injury time to take the match to penalty kicks. MARTINEZ saved David ALABA and Juan BERNAT’s kicks to win it for his team. Speaking to Arsenal’s official website, the hero fo the penalty shootout was asked about his secret in penalty shootouts. Here’s what he had to say:
Emiliano MARTINEZ:
”I guess to be honest. Since I was a kid, I’ve never lost on a penalty shoot-out. I keep building my luck in penalties. That’s what we train so hard for, extra-time. Goalkeepers always start early and finish late. The boss said that I had 20 or 25 minutes to play in this game, and I tried to do my best. It worked.
“I saved two penalties at the end and that was pretty incredible, but I think everyone played a part in this game.”
MARTINEZ also received praise from Arsenal’s goalscorer, Alex IWOBI.
Alex IWOBI:
“We all know he’s capable of doing that. In training he’s very sharp and light on his toes. I’d also like to big him up and say a big congratulations to him as well.”
