Yahoo News Emi Martinez handed perfect 'alternative' end-of-season award by Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been crowned the Premier League's 'biggest windup' by Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher.
The Argentine has quite a big personality - something footballing world has grown accustomed to since his Arsenal days, right through to helping Villa secure Champions League football this season. He was even immortalised on the biggest stage of all, when collecting his golden glove award after 2022's World Cup Final.
And this has resulted in Martinez picking another 'alternative' award, for his contributions over the course of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
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Sky Sports regulars Neville and Carragher sat down to present each other with a series of these 'alternative' awards for various light-hearted categories. This followed on from the duo's full end-of-season awards on Monday Night Football, in which the former Man United full-back put Martinez in his Team of the Season, whilst the ex-Liverpool defender included Ollie Watkins whilst naming Unai Emery's side 'biggest overachievers'.
Carragher posed the question who is the biggest windup in the top-flight, giving nominations of Brentford's Neal Maupay, Arsenal's Ben White or the Villa No.1.
Without hesitation, Neville responded: "Oh, Martinez - I'll pick Martinez," before going on to admit: "And do you know something? I like him."
Perfectly encapsulating why the 31-year-old is the perfect choice, Carragher referred back to a moment when the goalkeeper even got the better of one of his rival nominations. Flashing back to Brentford vs Villa five months ago, he asked: "Have you seen the one of Maupay and him? Brilliant."
The pair memorably clashed as Villa came from behind to win in West London earlier in the campaign. Martinez had needlessly been shoulder barged by the Frenchman, so returned the favour when the opportunity presented itself.
He tried to drag the opposition striker, who was playing up to the cameras, up off the floor after telling him to get on with the game, which incited a brawl between the two sets of angsty players that ultimately saw Boubacar Kamara sent off that day.
