![\"Aston](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_Crystal-Palace-v-Aston-Villa-Premier-League-Football-Selhurst-Park-London-UK-07-Jan-2026.jpg\")
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez(Image: Ian Tuttle\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\nUnai Emery has explained why Emi Martinez came off at half-time in the Premier League match against Crystal Palace<\/p>\n
22:08, 07 Jan 2026Updated 01:56, 08 Jan 2026<\/p>\n
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez(Image: Ian Tuttle\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
Unai Emery has confirmed that Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez was forced off at half-time at Selhurst Park due to a calf injury.<\/a><\/p>\n The goalkeeper was replaced by Marco Bizot<\/a> at the break after making a smart save in the first half, denying Crystal Palace’s<\/a> Brennan Johnson.<\/p>\n Bizot retained the clean sheet after coming on, marking his ninth appearance of the season.<\/p>\n “He has a small injury. A small injury,” Emery said about Martinez after full-time. “I am not a doctor, but it is in his calf.<\/p>\n “He played fantastic in the first half, and then Marco Bizot also played fantastic in the second half.<\/p>\n “Now we will check him with the doctor and hopefully in a few days or weeks he will come back ready to play.”<\/p>\n Martinez had previously pulled out of matches against Feyenoord and Brighton after feeling injured in the warm-ups.<\/p>\n He also missed games against Bologna, Basel, and West Ham due to injury.<\/p>\n Villa\u2019s first-choice stopper did not feature against Palace in the reverse fixture earlier this season, amid uncertainty over his future on the day before deadline day.<\/p>\n He also missed the season opener against Newcastle United due to suspension, following his red card against Manchester United on the final day of last season.<\/p>\n Content cannot be displayed without consentWhat do you make of Martinez’s season so far? 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