Mikel Arteta stands by his decision to sell £16m Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa and claims it was in Arsenal's 'BEST INTERESTS'... despite then spending £30m on Aaron Ramsdale and dropping No 1 Bernd Leno

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has stood by his decision to sell goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa for £16million last summer.

The Argentine had been at the club for eight years but never managed to nail down a first team place before being allowed to move to Villa Park.

He has since shone for both club and country while the Gunners spent nearly double his transfer fee on Aaron Ramsdale with Bernd Leno dropping to the bench. 

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has stood by his decision to sell goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez

Martinez has impressed for club and country since leaving the gunners after eight years

Arsenal fans have continued to question the decision to let Martinez go for so cheap but Arteta has no regrets.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of Arsenal's Friday night Premier League game at home to Martinez's Villa, he said: 'We made decisions with the best possible interest of the club. But as well a big participant was Emi,.

'He got to a point in his career where under me he started to play big games very well.

'It was urgent for him because he wanted to play so long. He's a great kid. I played with him I managed him. I can say that I'm happy for him.'

Arsenal bought Bernd Leno for £30m while Bernd Leno has dropped to the bench