Emiliano Martinez has revealed that asked to leave Arsenal by sending Mikel Arteta a text message - and has thanked the Gunners manager for helping him join Aston Villa.
Martinez, 28, spent a decade at the Emirates but had to wait until the run-in of the 2019/20 season for his first run in the team.
After Bernd Leno was injured at Brighton in the second game following Project Restart, Martinez excelled and his performances played a part in helping Arsenal to win a record 14th FA Cup.
But, with Leno returning from his knee injury, Arteta had a decision to make.
Despite naming Martinez in the Community Shield penalty shootout win over Liverpool, the Gunners boss opted to give Leno the gloves for the start of the Premier League season.
Goalkeeper Martinez, who helped his new club Villa beat Arsenal 3-0 at the Emirates on Sunday evening, told reporters: "I just wanted to play first-team football and Arsenal could not guarantee me that.
Martinez is enjoying life at Villa
Arsenal FC via Getty Images"They would not say I was going to play in the first game of the season against Fulham so when I had that doubt I had to leave and Villa were the first option and the only one for me."
After learning from Arteta that Leno would be Arsenal’s number one, Martinez said: "We sat down, I think he said it in a meeting.
"I was talking to him in front of a team-mate as well. I told him I wanted to play week in, week out and he couldn't guarantee who was going to start.
"Even before the Community Shield he didn't know who was going to play in goal. After 10 years at the club I didn't want to wait until Friday night, the day before the game, to know whether I was going to play against Fulham or not.
"So I just text him to say I was going to Aston Villa, so please help me and let me go."Martinez thanked Arteta for how he handled the situation, adding: "He was very honest and very open with me.
Martinez praised Arteta as a ‘great leader’
Arsenal FC via Getty Images"He helped me to leave the club after so many years. I've already said how grateful I am for that and how pleased I am about how well he is doing at Arsenal. I'm so happy he is the leader of the club.
"Obviously I have ambitions and he couldn't help the ambitions that I wanted, so we had a clear conversation. He's a very honest man and a great leader for this football club."
