Emiliano Martinez: Chelsea's New No.1 and Arsenal's Old Ally
Emi Martinez returns to Arsenal as Chelsea’s new No.1, with a point to prove and a title statement to make.
Alonso’s Chelsea revolution – and a new man in goal
Alonso has wasted no time ripping up the old script at Stamford Bridge. Eleven new faces through the door, a record £117 million splashed on Rogers to light up the attack, and a ruthless call at the back: a new goalkeeper to redefine Chelsea’s spine.
That man is Emiliano Martinez.
Signed from Aston Villa for £7.5m, the World Cup winner has arrived not as competition, but as the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper. His arrival pushed Robert Sanchez out of the picture entirely, the Spaniard sealing a deadline-day loan move to Como as the new hierarchy between the posts became crystal clear.
Martinez has already started to leave fingerprints on this reshaped Chelsea side. He was thrown straight into the chaos of a 4-3 thriller against Brighton last weekend and came out of it with credit, adding authority and presence to a backline still learning each other’s movements.
He even started that game wearing John Terry’s iconic No.26 shirt. Now, just a week later and with the ink barely dry on his Chelsea story, he walks into a London derby as the club’s new No.1 – literally and symbolically – in time to face the club that once let him go.
Arteta’s respect for an old ally
If anyone at the Emirates knows exactly what Chelsea have acquired, it is Mikel Arteta.
Martinez spent eight years in north London, a long apprenticeship that finally paid off in 2020 when he played a crucial role in Arsenal’s FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs under Arteta. Those performances effectively relaunched his career and paved the way for his move to Villa Park.
“Obviously, I know Emi really well,” Arteta said in his pre-match press conference on Friday. “We had him here. He is a top goalkeeper.”
There was no hint of surprise in his assessment of Chelsea’s business. Arteta openly praised Alonso’s move to bring a World Cup winner into a defence still being constructed.
“It is clear what he is going to bring to the team and I think it’s a really smart decision,” he added.
On Sunday, the man he once trusted at Wembley will walk out as the opponent determined to derail Arsenal’s perfect start.
Transfer battles and missed targets
Chelsea’s aggressive rebuild has not only reshaped their own dressing room; it has cut across Arsenal’s plans too.
The Gunners were heavily linked with Rogers earlier in the summer, only to watch Chelsea swoop and close the deal, adding the forward to Alonso’s new-look frontline. Other attacking dreams – such as moves for Vinicius Jr. and Julian Alvarez – never materialised either.
For many clubs, that kind of window would spark debate about what might have been. Arteta refused to indulge it.
Asked directly whether missing out on Rogers counted as a major blow, he dismissed the idea.
“I don’t know [if it is a missed opportunity], these are just opinions,” he said. “The window is closed, and I prefer to look at all the incredible things that we have in the squad and not to spend any more time on the things that are not part of us right now. So, that’s it, and that’s my main responsibility.”
No pining for what slipped away. No public frustration. Arteta’s focus is on the players he has, not the ones wearing blue.
Perfect starts, early stakes
Both sides arrive at the Emirates with flawless records from their opening two Premier League fixtures. It is early, but not insignificant. This is the kind of game that doesn’t decide a title, yet quietly shapes the belief of those who think they can win one.
For Martinez, it is more than just another away trip. He returns to his old ground with a new badge on his chest and a fresh number on his back, tasked with shutting down an Arsenal attack that wants to announce itself as ruthless, relentless and ready for another title push.
For Alonso, the stakes are just as sharp. A win away at the reigning champions would do more than deliver three points. It would send a jolt through the league and offer instant vindication for a frantic summer of spending and upheaval.
Chelsea’s new No.1 now walks back into north London, not as a back-up, not as a nearly man, but as the face of a new era between the posts. How he handles that stage – and how Arsenal handle him – may tell us more about this season’s power balance than the calendar suggests it should.
