Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez required an escort down the tunnel following a fiery confrontation with Arsenal supporters after his side's heavy 4-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium on December 31, 2025.
The Tunnel Incident That Sparked Fury
Video footage circulating online captured the moment the Argentine international turned to respond to goading home fans as he headed for the dressing rooms. One supporter was heard repeatedly shouting, "You're rattled! F*** off, f*** off, f*** off! He's so rattled. Wakey wakey." As others joined in, an incensed Martinez spun around before being swiftly ushered away by a member of Aston Villa's backroom staff.
This was not an isolated moment of tension. The incident capped a difficult evening for Martinez, who conceded four second-half goals, and highlighted his severely damaged relationship with the club where he spent a decade.
A Decade at Arsenal and a Bitter Departure
Emiliano Martinez was on Arsenal's books for 10 years but made only 38 first-team appearances before his departure in 2020. His return to the Emirates with Villa in 2021 was met with chants of "Aaron Ramsdale, he's better than you" – a taunt that has since evolved to involve current number one David Raya.
While Martinez has often spoken warmly about loving the club, his public reflections on his exit have repeatedly rubbed fans the wrong way. In a 2021 interview with Sky Sports, he stated, "I just felt like they didn't trust me like they should have... I still felt like they didn't deserve me because of the way they were treating me."
He explained his decision to leave was a gamble to escape his "comfort zone," a phrase some supporters interpreted as a slight. Another comment, where he revealed his initial move to Arsenal was primarily a financial decision to help his family, also frustrated sections of the fanbase.
The Unravelling of a Former Favourite
The cumulative effect of these interviews, coupled with his on-pitch antics – which have included extreme time-wasting and gamesmanship in matches against Arsenal – has彻底 transformed his standing. Once a popular back-up keeper, Martinez is now a prime target for vitriol from the Gunners faithful.
The tunnel clash at the Emirates is the latest and most visible sign of this breakdown. Following a night that also saw Villa manager Unai Emery snub a handshake with Mikel Arteta, Martinez will now focus on Villa's next Premier League fixture at home to Nottingham Forest. Arsenal, meanwhile, travel to face Bournemouth.
The episode underscores how quickly allegiances can shift in football, turning a former employee into a perceived antagonist through a combination of perceived disloyalty and competitive rivalry.
