Emi Martinez's stance on shock Arsenal return as David Raya fears emerge

Arsenal are said to be considering a sensational move to bring BACK to The Emirates - five years after he was brutally shown the door by .

Martinez, 32, has gone on to establish himself as one of the 's top goalkeepers since joining . There is speculation, though, that the World Cup-winning Argentina star is planning to seek a new challenge at the end of the season after he became emotional following Villa's final home game of the season last week.

Prior to his breakout years at Villa Park, Martinez spent eight years on the books at , who loaned him out numerous times before he had a brief spell in favour before his departure.

However, it's now been claimed by that not only are Arsenal interested in bringing Martinez back, but that the veteran shot-stopper would relish the chance to finally become the Gunners' No.1 keeper.

The shock development comes amid the club's fears over losing off the back of another stellar season for the Spaniard. Raya, 29, is understood to have been identified by as the long-term successor to Thibaut Courtois.

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There is further interest in the former Brentford keeper with Atletico Madrid also keen in the wake of concerns that they, too, could lose their No.1, Jan Oblek, to Saudi Arabia.

Raya has gone from strength to strength since joining Arsenal in a controversial move back in 2023, initially on loan. Such has been Raya's progress that recently claimed that Arteta's decision to replace while the former Arsenal star was at the peak of his powers was one of the Spaniard's 'best ever' calls.

"I picked Alisson as the best goalkeeper in the this season but I was very close to picking David Raya," Carragher said recently on .

"Alisson had that performance against and that was one of the best we’ve seen from a goalkeeper so maybe that stuck in my head. But Raya probably had five or six world-class saves this season. There was one against and Ollie Watkins but it was that long ago that it feels like last season.

"That was one of the best decisions Mikel Arteta made, it was brave because Aaron Ramsdale was a bit of a fans’ favourite but Arsenal were never going to win anything big with him in goal.

"They haven’t done that with Raya yet either by the way but it was a good decision."

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