Emiliano Martinez – A picture of patience as former Sheffield Wednesday man steps into the FA Cup final with Arsenal

He joined Arsenal back in 2010, but up until this season Emiliano Martinez had played more senior games for Sheffield Wednesday than he had for the Gunners. Now, almost seven years after his spell at Hillsborough, the Argentine shot-stopper will be stepping out in a FA Cup final London derby at Wembley.
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Oxford United, Wednesday, Rotherham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Getafe and Reading were all pitstops for the 27-year-old on the way to where he is now, and his patience has started to pay off as he prepares for his 23rd game of the season tomorrow – the most he’s made in any campaign to date.

Martinez was brought to Sheffield in October 2013 as a short-term emergency loan, however his deal was then extended twice, once until January and then again until the end of the season. He made 15 appearances for the Owls during the 2013/14 campaign, and is remembered fondly by Wednesdayites for his time in S6.

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Back then, in an interview with Radio Sheffield, the Argentine declared his love for the Owls, saying, “I love Wednesday. I really want to stay here and extend my contract… I spoke to Arsenal and I said I will not be going back to the club as first choice so I need to play.

"The Arsenal staff say that I am doing well because they have been watching every game and that I have the talent to play for them, but I need experience. I am a young goalkeeper and I am gaining enough experience here.

"I want to give my team clean sheets and that is what all goalkeepers want. I was giving everything in training and then I got a chance to play in the first team and show every game that I can be the number one.”

And that attitude of working hard and waiting for his chance has served him well. By the time he reaches his 28th birthday next month he could be an FA Cup winner and potentially even first choice at Arsenal.

Emiliano Martinez spent time with Sheffeid Wednesday on loan from Arsenal seven years ago. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)Emiliano Martinez spent time with Sheffeid Wednesday on loan from Arsenal seven years ago. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Emiliano Martinez spent time with Sheffeid Wednesday on loan from Arsenal seven years ago. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
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Up until this season he’d only made 14 appearances for Arsenal’s senior side in the last decade, but an injury to Bernd Leno in June saw his breakthrough at the Emirates, and he hasn’t looked back.

Earlier in the campaign, when he looked destined for a another year of playing second fiddle, he told Arsenal’s official website, "I've been here for so many years and the only reason I've stayed here is because I believe I can be the No 1 here. I've got all the qualities you need.

"Arsène Wenger, when he was here, used to say to me, 'Emi, you're the future of this club'. I believe I can be a number one. Don't get me wrong, I accept my role as a No 2 at the moment, but my target’s to get that number one jersey."

Tomorrow’s FA Cup final at Wembley is a just a few miles away from Vicarage Road where ‘Emi’ kept his first Owls clean sheet, but he's a bit further up the pyramid now, and finally – after almost a decade at Arsenal – his patience is paying off.

Martinez played 15 games in total for the Owls. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)Martinez played 15 games in total for the Owls. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)
Martinez played 15 games in total for the Owls. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)

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