'I'M SO GRATEFUL' Emi Martinez confirms he’s leaving Arsenal with goodbye message ahead of £20m Aston Villa transfer

EMILIANO MARTINEZ has sent out a lengthy and touching goodbye message to Arsenal fans ahead of his £20million switch to Aston Villa.

Posted Wednesday, September 16, 2020 by Thesun.co.uk

The FA Cup final hero keeper "could not be happier to leave through the front door" with his head held high as the Gunners' longest-serving player.

Tearful Emiliano Martinez was as much an FA Cup final hero for Arsenal as two-goal Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Credit: Getty Images - Getty

Argentinian Martinez has completed a medical and agreed a four-year Villa deal worth around £60,000 a week.

And in an Instagram post the 28-year-old revealed his pride at departing the Emirates on a high after previous "frustration" amid six loan spells away.

Having helped Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 in the Cup final last month, he returned to Wembley a fortnight ago for a Community Shield swansong win over Liverpool on penalties.

Martinez said: "I'm very grateful for my 11 years at Arsenal even if it was hard work for me.

"I was trying season after season always to come back to the club I love to have my chance.

"It was hard but I knew there was light at the end of the tunnel.

"That's when we won the FA Cup and the Community Shield I saw sun and I blue skies. It was the right time for me to step up (to leave) and they all understood my decision."

And with rousing advice for young players. Martinez added: "If you work hard you are not going to be happy all the time.

"You're going to have frustrations, you're going to have bad times in your life but you have to overcome that.

"When you pass that, that's when you see light."

He also saluted Emirates supporters for never forgetting him, even when he was well out of the first-team picture.

He said: "The Arsenal fanbase were always there for me.

"I felt their love. Even with loans or injuries i was receiving loads of loads of messages."

And explaining his exit, he added: "This is my time... with my family we decide."

Argentinian Emiliano Martinez is delighted that he finally played such big games for Arsenal before agreeing to move on Credit: Getty Images - Getty