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Emiliano Martinez was spotted walking through hundreds of Arsenal supporters outside the Emirates after Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat.
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The former Arsenal goalkeeper was met with chants and mixed reactions from fans as footage of the bizarre scene emerged online.
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Martinez endured a difficult return to north London despite making eight saves for Chelsea.
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The Argentine left the stadium on foot after facing his former club for the first time since joining Chelsea.
September 07, (THEWILL) — Emiliano Martinez’s return to the Emirates took an unexpected turn after the Chelsea goalkeeper was spotted walking through a crowd of Arsenal supporters following Sunday’s 2-1 defeat.
The former Arsenal favourite had just completed his first appearance against his old club since joining Chelsea in a £7.5 million move at the end of August.
But rather than leaving the stadium with his Chelsea teammates, Martinez was filmed making his way home on foot through hundreds of Arsenal supporters, producing a bizarre scene outside the Emirates.
Footage of the incident quickly circulated online, with supporters reacting to the sight of the Argentine goalkeeper walking among them after Chelsea had suffered defeat.
Martinez’s Unusual Exit Catches Arsenal Fans’ Attention
Martinez appeared to be making his way away from the stadium when Arsenal supporters recognised him.
The goalkeeper was met with chants, including “Emi, what’s the score?”, while other fans questioned why he had chosen to walk through the crowd rather than leave with Chelsea’s team.
The reaction was mixed.
Some supporters mocked their former goalkeeper, while others felt Martinez deserved greater respect because of his contribution during his time at Arsenal.
The unusual scenes quickly became one of the talking points surrounding Chelsea’s defeat, with footage from outside the Emirates spreading across social media.
A Difficult Return for the Former Arsenal Favourite
Martinez had already endured a frustrating afternoon before stepping outside the stadium.
The 34-year-old started in goal for Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea but was beaten at his near post when Kai Havertz equalised for Arsenal.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville criticised the goalkeeper’s positioning for the goal, arguing that Martinez should have done better with the effort.
However, the criticism does not tell the whole story.
Martinez actually produced eight saves during the match, the highest number recorded by a Chelsea goalkeeper at the Emirates since Thibaut Courtois in 2018.
Despite his individual efforts, Chelsea ultimately left north London empty-handed.
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Arsenal Complete the Comeback
Chelsea had made the perfect start when Morgan Rogers struck inside the opening two minutes.
Arsenal responded through Havertz before captain Martin Odegaard completed the comeback in the second half, maintaining the champions’ perfect start to the Premier League season.
The defeat made Martinez’s first competitive appearance against his former club even more uncomfortable.
The Argentine spent a decade at Arsenal before leaving for Aston Villa in 2020, where he established himself as one of the Premier League’s leading goalkeepers.
His eventual move to Chelsea created another unusual chapter in his relationship with Arsenal supporters.
From Arsenal Hero to Chelsea Opposition
Martinez remains a complicated figure in Arsenal’s history.
He spent much of his early career fighting for opportunities before eventually becoming the club’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 2019-20 FA Cup-winning campaign.
He later left for Aston Villa, where his performances helped transform his reputation and contributed to his rise with Argentina.
Now, after returning to London in Chelsea colours, Martinez finds himself on the opposite side of one of English football’s biggest rivalries.
His walk through the Arsenal crowd after Sunday’s defeat added another memorable episode to that complicated relationship.
The former Arsenal goalkeeper had returned to the Emirates expecting a difficult afternoon against his old club.
Few could have expected his journey home to become part of the story too.
🚨 Arsenal fans definitely weren’t going to give Emiliano MartÃnez an easy time, even after the final whistle. 😅 pic.twitter.com/N1twNchMVT
— RazedFootball (@RazedFootball) September 6, 2026
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
