Emiliano Martinez has somewhat surprisingly claimed that joining Aston Villa from Arsenal is a "step up" in his career.
The Argentinean goalkeeper joined Dean Smith's side last month for a fee of £20m and has settled in well at Villa Park, keeping two clean sheets in his first two games.
Some Arsenal supporters were unhappy with the decision to sell Martinez following his superb performances at the latter end of last season while Bernd Leno was injured.
But speaking to Sky Sports Martinez insisted he had to leave for the sake of his career.
"I'm in the best shape of my career and when I didn't have the security of that game time, I wasn't sure about staying," Martinez said. "I'm fighting to be Argentina's number one, that's my dream.
"Aston Villa is a massive club, I had no doubts over coming here. Everyone thinks it's a step down going from Arsenal to Villa, but I actually think it's a step up in my career."
Martinez spoke about his efforts to become No.1 at Arsenal, and said he simply could not stay while there was a chance he would not be starting regularly.
"People don't realise how much I'd been fighting to get on the bench. I had nine goalkeepers in front of me," he added.
"Once on the bench, I wanted to be number one. Once I got the number one shirt, and I wasn't sure I was going to keep it, I said I'll go and be the number one somewhere else.
"My ambition was always trying to be number one at Arsenal, coming through their academy was not easy. People that talk outside of football know nothing about football."
Martinez may have to be at his very best if his side are to get a positive result this weekend as they take on champions Liverpool.
