Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has questioned Emiliano Martinez’s performance in Chelsea’s 2-1 Premier League defeat to Arsenal, arguing that the goalkeeper may no longer possess the sharpness and speed that defined his peak years.
Carragher’s assessment centred on Arsenal’s equalising goal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, when Kai Havertz struck against his former club after Chelsea had taken an early lead through Morgan Rogers.
Rogers had given Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea an ideal start, finding the net with a volley from the edge of the penalty area inside the opening two minutes. Arsenal gradually grew into the contest, however, and Havertz restored parity midway through the first half with a shot that Martinez was unable to keep out at his near post.
Martin Odegaard then put Arsenal ahead shortly after the interval, with the Gunners holding on to secure all three points and maintain their perfect start to the new Premier League campaign.
While Carragher did not regard Martinez’s involvement in Havertz’s goal as a conventional goalkeeping mistake, the former Liverpool defender believed the Argentine might have stopped the effort earlier in his career.
Carragher questions Martinez’s reaction time
Analysing the goal for Sky Sports, Carragher said Martinez would probably have made the save two or three years ago, suggesting that the goalkeeper’s current physical sharpness is not quite what it was at his peak.
“I think the goalkeeper saves that two or three years ago,” Carragher said.
His argument was based less on a technical error and more on Martinez’s reaction and ability to get down quickly enough to stop the shot.
Carragher acknowledged that Chelsea had secured what he considered a very good deal by signing the former Aston Villa goalkeeper for £7.5 million. He also stressed that Martinez remains a good goalkeeper and believes his presence should improve Chelsea’s confidence compared with their previous option, Robert Sanchez.
“It isn’t a mistake, it was a great deal for £7.5m and he’s still a really good goalkeeper and he’s better than Sanchez,” Carragher said.
However, he maintained that Martinez’s current level should not be confused with the goalkeeper who established himself among the world’s elite during his time with Argentina.
‘Not the goalkeeper who won the World Cup’
Martinez became widely recognised for his performances with Argentina, particularly during the country’s World Cup triumph. Carragher argued that the goalkeeper Chelsea have signed remains capable but is no longer operating at exactly the same level.
“You go and get someone who has been a great goalkeeper and who in the eyes is still one. But they’re not bringing in the goalkeeper who won the World Cup,” he said.
Carragher returned to the distinction when explaining Havertz’s goal, insisting that Martinez’s failure to keep out the shot should not automatically be classified as a goalkeeping mistake.
“The first Arsenal goal isn’t a mistake, it’s just a goalkeeper who isn’t quite as sharp or quick as he once was to get down,” he said.
The former defender said there was an important difference between failing to react quickly enough to a shot and making a clear technical error such as coming for a cross and dropping it.
“There’s a difference between that and a keeper dropping a cross, it’s just a goalkeeper not reacting quick enough,” Carragher added.
Chelsea’s £7.5m signing under scrutiny
Chelsea brought Martinez into the squad for £7.5 million, a fee Carragher described as an excellent piece of business given the goalkeeper’s experience and established reputation.
Despite his criticism of the first Arsenal goal, Carragher did not suggest that Chelsea had made a poor signing. Instead, he viewed Martinez as an upgrade who could provide greater assurance behind the Chelsea defence.
“It will make everyone feel a bit more confident as well,” he said.
The former Liverpool defender nevertheless believes Chelsea should recognise that Martinez’s current performances need to be judged against the exceptionally high standard he set during his best years.
“Martinez has been a brilliant goalkeeper and he’s still a very good goalkeeper but he’s not the goalkeeper who won the World Cup, he’s not,” Carragher said.
He described Havertz’s equaliser as a small indication of that change.
“That was a little insight into that,” Carragher added.
Arsenal punish Chelsea after early setback
The discussion surrounding Martinez came after Chelsea failed to turn their rapid start into a positive result at the Emirates.
Rogers’ early volley gave Alonso’s side the advantage, but Arsenal responded strongly and eventually took control of the match.
Havertz’s equaliser against his former club brought Arsenal level before Odegaard’s second-half goal completed the turnaround.
The result preserved Arsenal’s 100 per cent start to the season, while Chelsea suffered their first defeat despite having opened the campaign with the intention of maintaining their perfect record and sending an early statement in the title race.
Carragher’s comments therefore focused on one specific moment that he believed illustrated a broader issue for Martinez: not a major mistake, but a possible decline in the speed and sharpness that once made him an outstanding goalkeeper.
For Chelsea, Martinez remains a highly experienced and respected goalkeeper, and Carragher believes he is still better than Sanchez. But the Liverpool icon’s assessment is that the Argentine’s current level should be viewed realistically rather than measured against the version of Martinez who helped Argentina win the World Cup.
EPL: Jamie Carragher Blames Emiliano Martinez for Arsenal’s First Goal Against Chelsea
