Emi Martinez escorted out of Emirates as Arsenal have last laugh against Chelsea
Emiliano Martinez appeared to be ushered away after Chelsea's defeat to Arsenal.(Image: @RazedFootball/X)
Emi Martinez appeared to be escorted away from the Emirates Stadium by bodyguards following his Chelsea's defeat to Arsenal. The summer signing couldn't help Xabi Alonso's side continue their winning start to the Premier League season as they were beaten 2-1 by the Gunners.
The Argentine left Arsenal to join Aston Villa before returning to the capital to help solve the Blues' goalkeeping issues. But he couldn't stop the North London club coming from behind to preserve their perfect start after Morgan Rogers handed Chelsea the lead inside the opening minute, before hitting back through Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard to claim all three points.
Riccardo Calafiori also had a goal ruled out for offside for Arsenal just moments after Rogers had broken the deadlock for Chelsea.
Martinez was returning to the Emirates for just his second appearance in a Chelsea shirt, having completed a permanent transfer from Aston Villa earlier in the summer in a deal understood to be worth around £7.5million.
The Argentina international spent a decade with the Gunners before departing North London for Villa Park back in 2020.
Footage circulating on social media, filmed on Sunday evening, captured Martinez as he left the Emirates and made his way through the streets of North London.
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The clip appeared to show the Chelsea stopper flanked by two bodyguards, who helped him navigate safely through the crowd of supporters who had recognised him outside the ground.
Sunday's defeat to Arsenal represents Chelsea's first loss of the season under new manager Xabi Alonso, though the Blues have already been assured that the acquisition of Martinez will prove to be a shrewd piece of business. Jamie Redknapp was asked during Sky Sports' coverage of Ipswich Town vs Liverpool on Friday night whether Brentford star Mamadou Sangare could be regarded as the signing of the summer.
In response, Redknapp said: "Yeah for me, and also Emi Martinez as well, that was a really smart one," he said.
"You couldn't take Chelsea seriously this season if they kept the goalkeeper [Robert Sanchez] in place. Not that I don't think he's going to come back and have a really good career, maybe just not at Chelsea.
"But that Emi Martinez one with his experience and quality that he possesses, I think it gives Chelsea a really good chance.
"That's the question mark that everyone had against them: 'Is the goalkeeper good enough?' and he certainly is."
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