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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Jake Polden

Ian Wright explains why he's worried Chelsea will raid Arsenal in summer transfer window

Ian Wright admits he's "frightened" Chelsea will target Arsenal in the summer transfer window and snap up Emiliano Martinez.

The Gunners goalkeeper played second fiddle to Bernd Leno for most of the season, but was called upon in recent weeks after the German picked up an injury.

Taking up the mantle of No.1, Martinez has been very impressive for Arsenal.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are having big problems in the goalkeeping department, with Kepa Arrizabalaga showing increasingly poor form between the sticks.

The Blues haven't been linked with Martinez, but Wright fears they could poach the keeper with the promise of first-team football, as the Argentine has got a taste for it now, and knows he'll return to being Arsenal's No.2 when Leno recovers from injury.

Ian Wright admits he's "frightened" Chelsea will target Arsenal in the transfer window (BBC Sport)

The Arsenal legend explained on the Kelly and Wrighty Show: "When you go to a No.2, the first thing you do is worry because you think, 'Has he had enough games? Will he be able to deal with the pressure?'

"Obviously there's no fans there, but everybody spoke about Emi and how good he is, but I didn't realise how good he was because I didn't see enough of him.

"I saw him in some cup games but he's commanding, he makes great saves, he's good on the ground, he's got everything for a No.2.

"The thing that frightens me now with him is that when Bernd Leno does come back and he is fit, why would he want to continue as a No.2 when he's played to this level being a No.1?

Emiliano Martinez played second fiddle to Bernd Leno for most of the season (AFP via Getty Images)

"He will surely want to go and be a No 1 now.

"What frightens me is you look at someone like Frank [Lampard] and you look at what Chelsea's doing, you just say to yourself, 'Do you know something? Can we prise him away?'

"This is what worries me, simply because you look at what he's done and how he plays, he is better than Kepa now.

I think he's probably better than Bernd Leno if I'm going to be totally honest, from what I've seen. I'd be gutted [if Martinez left].

Martinez stepped up the plate after Leno suffered an injury against Brighton (RICHARD HEATHCOTE/NMC/GETTY IMAGES POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

"To be honest I don't want Bernd to go but what I'm saying about [Martinez] is we've got to be very careful with him.

"If Bernd does come back, he's now played in a situation where he's played fantastically, he's been brilliant, and he's probably got the taste for that now.

"So why would you want to go back to being a No.2 and not playing?"

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