'It's interesting': David James says £20m player sold by Arsenal would now be 'perfect' for them

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Arsenal’s success under Mikel Arteta has been built from trust in youth and some shrew pieces of business in the transfer market.

From Gabriel Magalhaes to Martin Odegaard to Kai Havertz, Arteta and sporting director Edu Gaspar have worked wonders in north London to build a squad that this season could finally go all the way and win the Premier League.

Although there have been some questionable moves, Arteta has more often than not proven to be right in his judgement on who should be brought and who should leave, with the Aaron Ramsdale/David Raya fiasco the most recent and telling example.

Yet David James thinks one player sold by Arsenal would now be perfect for the Gunners.

Emi Martinez ‘perfect’ for Arsenal three years after leaving

Speaking on Seaman Says, the Premier League legend brought up an interesting point that Emi Martinez would be ‘the perfect goalkeeper’ for Arsenal three years after the Argentine international left to join Aston Villa in a £20m deal.

Since moving to Villa Park, Martinez has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in world football having won two Copa Americas and a FIFA World Cup with Argentina, whereas Arsenal have only now settled on a clear no. 1 in Raya.

And for James, Martinez could have been Arsenal’s perfect goalkeeper had the South American remained at the Emirates Stadium, especially with the 32-year-old now considered one of the best in the world.

James said: "It's interesting when you look at the Raya situation at Arsenal, the Ramsdale situation at Arsenal and the fact that Martinez was allowed to go because of Leno, who's a decent goalkeeper but doesn't necessarily have character. Martinez would have been the perfect goalkeeper, I think, for Arsenal right now."

Arsenal were right to sell Martinez back in 2021

Martinez’s development into one of the best goalkeepers in the world was something few fans would have predicted even after the Argentine’s impressive string of performances for Arsenal at the backend of the 2020/21 season.

Yet even with Martinez where he is now, Arsenal were still right to sell the goalkeeper when they did, with the events triggered by the transfer all leading to now where the Gunners are right in the mix for the Premier League title year after year.

Indeed, whilst Arsenal have only settled on Raya as their no. 1, Martinez might not have developed as much as he has in recent years had he stayed in north London, with Villa Park the ideal destination for the 32-year-old goalkeeper.