Emiliano Martinez is the Embodiment of Patience Truly Paying off
Written by MarkK on July 20, 2020
In October last year, a very confident Emiliano Martinez stood in front of a press conference and said he wanted to be number one for both club and country. One might have assumed he was just talking for PR purposes, but fast forward to June this year, Emi is taking his chance with both hands. Arsenal fans were shocked to the core when Bernd Leno looked like he had suffered a long-term knee injury and were calling out for a backup replacement. However, Emi seems to be taking his new found role like a duck to water. Let us take a look at the challenges he has had to face in his career to make you know that anything is possible in this world if you just work hard to get it.
Emi Martinez joined Arsenal in 2010 after a 4-day trial and has been there ever since. However, he has struggled to nail down a spot in the first team because being a goalkeeper is the hardest position to stake your claim and get some game time. When he joined, he promised his father he would end up becoming a success because he came from a poor, working class family where they struggled to even buy meat for dinner most of the times. Today, his father always ensures he watches all arsenal matches in the faint hope he will get to see his son play football.
Since he joined, he has been on a series of 6 loan spells and it got to a point where it was clear he looked like getting moved on. He even struggled to nail a spot at Wolverhampton Wanderers as a Championship goalkeeper. It is ironically the same ground where the whole world was finally awakened to his abilities as a goalkeeper 2 weeks ago and is proving to be the Premier League’s best back up goalkeeper and arguably he keeps his form going, could end up becoming the first choice goalkeeper, just like Jan Oblak for Atletico Madrid when he took advantage of Martin Moya’s injury with both hands and Nick Pope, a former milkman who is now arguably England’s best goalkeeper.
It was Martinez’s last loan spell at reading where he started to realise his potential in 2019.He even had to stay away from his family in a hotel in order to follow a strict training and fitness programme. This shows a commitment and determination that appears hidden behind his cheerful face. ”I said to my dad I’m going to do it, and I won’t stop until I’m number one for Argentina. I believe in my work; I don’t know if I’m going to be the number one in 2 or 10 months, but I will be!”
In this world, you have to acknowledge that you are an ant. Work hard until you fall down with fatigue.Be patient and when you get your chance, take it with both hands. We all should learn something from Emi Martinez
