If penalty shootouts are a lottery, then having Emiliano Martinez in goal is like holding the winning ticket.
When it comes to these tests of nerve, Martinez is worth almost a goal’s headstart. He has delivered in the World Cup final and with Aston Villa one win away from their first major trophy since 1996, few would bet against the Argentine if Wednesday night’s Europa League meeting with Freiburg goes the distance.
This is Martinez’s stage and his success is no mere fluke.
During his early days at Villa, coaches like Neil Cutler – now at Sunderland – worked daily on improving his demeanour on the pitch. They wanted Martinez to carry himself with a confidence bordering on arrogance. He developed body language that says ‘I’m in charge’. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea but if he plays a decisive role in helping lift the trophy, nobody with Villa at heart will give a hoot about that.
When Martinez moved to Villa from Arsenal in 2020, he and Cutler forged a relationship that helped Martinez to the top of the world. Indeed, the 33-year-old regards Cutler as one of the best in the business and said so on his social media channels when Unai Emery decided to replace Cutler with his own man, Javi Garcia, in October 2022.
Cutler tells Daily Mail Sport: ‘The intimidation factor is a big part of it because of what he’s done, winning the World Cup after a shootout and the Copa America the year before.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez denies France’s Kingsley Coman in the 2022 World Cup final shootout
Martinez revels in the moment as he sends Argentina towards their first World Cup triumph since 1986
‘When a kicker approaches, they see someone who’s energetic, athletic, bouncing up and down, staring at them. Straight away, it makes him tough to beat. Then he does everything he can to get that extra two or three per cent – throwing the ball away, putting off the kicker.
‘Then you throw in the power and reach. Unless the ball is hit with pace into the corner, Emi has a great chance of saving it. His athleticism and reach mean he doesn’t have to move until the last minute. That means he can go quicker on to his leading leg and push. He’s worked hard on becoming the best in the world.’
The numbers bear out Martinez’s success, too. According to data from Goalkeeper.com, who provide advanced goalkeeper analytics to elite clubs, federations, broadcasters and leagues, he has saved 10 shootout penalties in his career, with a save percentage of 32.3.
‘This means that when someone steps up to take against Martinez, their chances of scoring drop from three in four to two in three,’ says Dr John Harrison, head of data science at Goalkeeper.com. ‘That is huge for his team.
‘When facing penalties, Martinez is excellent at not giving himself away too early regarding which side he might dive to. Sometimes he stays central, meaning takers don’t want to go down the middle against him, but he fully commits when he does decide to dive, as seen at the last World Cup.
‘In 2022 against the Netherlands and France, Martinez completely threw himself across the goal with a great stable body shape and didn’t twist away from the ball. He has an excellent diving technique which means if he goes the right way, he has a good chance of making the save.
‘His step off his line is also very well timed. He doesn’t try to get too far down the line of the ball, meaning he gives himself space to make the save while not cutting his reaction time too much.
‘Martinez is also mentally very strong and can engage in mind games without losing concentration himself. He clearly believes he will be the hero every time which adds even more pressure on the taker. It’s no surprise IFAB’s rule changes in 2023 around goalkeeper behaviour during penalty shootouts directly followed Martinez’s antics to distract penalty-takers at the last World Cup.’
‘Martinez is also mentally very strong and can engage in mind games without losing concentration himself’
Martinez makes a stunning save from an Igor Jesus effort during the Europa League semi-final
Martinez saves a World Cup quarter-final shoot-out penalty against the Netherlands. ‘He throws himself across the goal with a great body shape and doesn’t twist away from the ball’
It is unclear how many more moments like this Martinez might enjoy in a Villa shirt. He was keen to leave last summer, but potential moves to Manchester United and Atletico Madrid did not materialise.
Villa always have to keep an eye on balancing the books and selling Martinez would certainly help. He turns 34 in September but is still one of the best in the world and would command a decent fee – most of which can be booked as pure profit. They are also looking at younger goalkeepers and have identified Manchester City’s James Trafford as a possible successor.
Whoever replaces Martinez will step into the shoes of a bona fide Villa great. He can wind up opponents and fans, probably even his own team-mates and coaches, like few others. Yet you would always rather have him in your corner.
Martinez’s stunning save from Igor Jesus in the first leg of the semi-final against Nottingham Forest kept Villa in the tie and provided the platform for them to roar to a 4-0 victory at Villa Park the following week.
And if Villa make it over the line on Wednesday night, there is every chance Martinez will have played his part.
