Former Tottenham striker Darren Bent has urged Arsenal to retain the services of Emiliano Martinez, amid a wealth of interest in the Argentine stopper.
Bent was speaking to Football.London ahead of the return of the EFL on Quest highlights show this Saturday and shared his verdict on Mikel Arteta's goalkeeping headache.
The ex-England striker, himself an Arsenal fan, outlined the importance of having two top-quality goalkeepers in the squad for the new campaign.
As such, he believes it's crucial that Arteta's side resist offers for the 27-year-old following his fine performances last season and has backed him to compete with Bernd Leno for a starting berth.
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“I think Martinez is a top goalkeeper and I think he can push Leno all the way. It’s important in any top team to have two very, very good goalkeepers," he said.
"We’ve seen in the past that if you have one goalkeeper that is ok and one that is superb, the one who is just ok lets the team down and costs them points.
“For me, it’s important that Arsenal hold onto both of them and that Martinez is confident enough that he can push Bernd Leno because since he came in between the sticks, he has been superb. He’s saved everything and done everything that he’s been called on to do.
“He’s top draw and I wouldn’t let either one of them go. You have to keep both of them. As we saw, Leno goes down and Martinez has been superb. If he goes down, then Leno comes back in. I think you need two top goalkeepers at the top level.”
If Martinez does leave, the Gunners will be in the market for a new stopper to compete with Leno and Brentford's David Raya is a target - but Bent has warned he wouldn't be at the same level and would be a clear second-choice to the Germany international.
“That would be more number two. He’s a good goalkeeper but he’d be number two, whereas at the moment we’ve got two genuine number ones scrapping it out for that spot. If Raya happened, I think he’d be number two with Leno as first-choice.
“It’s exciting for Arsenal, being an Arsenal fan it’s the most excited I’ve been for a long time with some of the signings they’ve made, the goalkeeper situation, bringing in two centrebacks, there is finally strength in depth there. I really expect a positive season for Arsenal.”
