Mikel Arteta explains reason behind Emiliano Martinez sale

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that the lack of gametime was one of the prime reasons behind Emiliano Martinez's decision to join Aston Villa during the summer.

The Argentine spent a decade with the north London giants and he stood out for them during the final weeks of the previous season when Bernd Leno was injured.

Martinez thereafter made it clear that he wanted to play regular first-team football and that paved the way for him to join the Villains in a deal worth £20m.

Speaking ahead of the Villa clash, Arteta has now revealed the club needed to balance their books. He added that Martinez was sold as he could not guarantee him the number one spot.

"He performed really really well but we have to balance the books. We have to make the right choices in the market and obviously, I couldn't guarantee him to be the number one," He told.

Martinez kept three clean sheets in the first four Premier League games for Villa which they won. However, they have since suffered back-to-back defeats against Leeds United and Southampton.