Emi Martinez

[West Derby Villan]

it is hard to understand why Arteta let him go, the lad is great and I believe a better keeper than the other keeper at Arse who's name escapes me.

 I'm so glad we have him down the Villa

UTV
The Doc

Can’t agree more Doc, what was Arteta thinking......thank God he wasn’t, their loss is our gain.

[paul_e]

I think Emi probably made it clear that he didn't want to go back to being on the bench and Arteta actually did the decent thing and let him leave to find regular games because Leno was his first choice. You can question his judgement on their relative abilities but once he'd decided I think he's shown himself to be a decent bloke by letting Emi go, similar to Smith with Samatta really.

[SoccerHQ]

Arsenal board wanted to sell him to make up shortfall on continual lack of CL income. Think that played a part in Arteta's decision.

[paul_e]

Arsenal board wanted to sell him to make up shortfall on continual lack of CL income. Think that played a part in Arteta's decision.

Almost certainly, there's not much point in having a £20m keeper sat in the stands every week.

[OCD]

I think we were only expecting to pay £7/8m originally and were a little shocked when they demanded £20m. He's been justifying that price though.

[Dr Butler]

Arsenal board wanted to sell him to make up shortfall on continual lack of CL income. Think that played a part in Arteta's decision.

Almost certainly, there's not much point in having a £20m keeper sat in the stands every week.

yep that all makes sense

UTV
The Doc

[Hookeysmith]

We now have one valued around £10 mil sitting on our bench

That is a sign of progress

[paul_e]

We now have one valued around £10 mil sitting on our bench

That is a sign of progress

and if he asked to leave so he can play regularly I'd hope we'd be willing to at least discuss it. Goalkeepers are very different to outfield players because a 2nd choice can spend 2-3 seasons in that role and play no more than a handful of games, finding someone who is happy to do that and still give you 100% when he gets gametime is hard, particularly once they're over about 24-25.

[OCD]

Jed Steer is still a very good goalkeeper and it sounds like we've got a couple of good keepers coming through the youth ranks so if someone did want to pay good money for Heaton, we would be in a good condition to accept it.

[nigel]

I think we were only expecting to pay £7/8m originally and were a little shocked when they demanded £20m. He's been justifying that price though.

Smith has said he knew a keeper of his quality wouldn’t come along often. So I’d doubt we were expecting to pay £7/8m.
I think our first offer was around £14, going by media reports.

[OCD]

There were still reports that we were a little taken aback by their price tag when we approached them.

[nigel]

Jed Steer is still a very good goalkeeper and it sounds like we've got a couple of good keepers coming through the youth ranks so if someone did want to pay good money for Heaton, we would be in a good condition to accept it.

Agree.
I’m actually surprised no one has come in for Jed. I think he’s a great keeper

[nigel]

There were still reports that we were a little taken aback by their price tag when we approached them.

Stand corrected then, mate.
I hadn’t heard that.
I just gathered from the bits I read that we offered £14m they wanted £20m and eventually we met them just over half way

[LeeB]

Jed Steer is still a very good goalkeeper and it sounds like we've got a couple of good keepers coming through the youth ranks so if someone did want to pay good money for Heaton, we would be in a good condition to accept it.

Agree.
I’m actually surprised no one has come in for Jed. I think he’s a great keeper

I agree, although he had that injury so that's probably why.

[paul_e]

Jed could be a very good keeper if he could stay fit but he seems to pick up niggly injuries every time he looks like he's broken through, I feel for him but i wouldn't trust him as first choice.

Sinisalo looks a very good prospect as the long term 2nd choice, looked really good for the reserves last season and has had really good reviews from his loan spell this season.