Aston Villa signing Martinez pays tribute to Arsenal boss Arteta | OneFootball

Aston Villa signing Emi Martinez has paid tribute to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

After joining up with his new club on Wednesday he spoke glowingly of the Gunners and Arteta.

"I think I won three FA Cups, three Community Shields [when he wasn't involved], but actually I wasn't part of the team, I wasn't getting the minutes that I needed," he told the Gunners website.

"So I never felt that I won it. I was part of the team, but I never felt like it was mine. And I had to go on loan after loan after loan to come back and have a chance to become the keeper I am today.

"And when I won those trophies [FA Cup and Community Shield], it was 'this is me'. Arsenal obviously they tried to retain me and obviously I spoke with Mikel, I spoke with the club.

"But they understood my decision and they respected it. And that's Arsenal, you know. When you give everything for the club they will respect you.

"So I am grateful to be the player I am and the person I am. I came here as a young boy, single, from Argentina, from a poor country, a poor family. And I'm leaving with a wife, with a kid, and as a man. And everything is because of Arsenal as well.

"I just want to say to the fans that they should trust the process, they are doing really good work with Mikel and his staff and I wish them all the best."