Emiliano Martinez feeling the love after his Aston Villa switch

The 28-year-old arrived at Villa Park last month from Arsenal in a deal which could eventually be worth £20million.

Martinez has enjoyed an excellent start to life with Villa, saving a penalty against Sheffield United on debut and helping Dean Smith’s team win their first three Premier League matches.

After a decade spent largely on the bench with the Gunners, the Argentine claims he is currently driven by a desire to repay Villa’s trust.

“I didn’t always feel part of it (at Arsenal),” said Martinez, who is currently away on international duty. “We won trophies but I was on the bench or just in the squad.

“I’m not trying to prove anyone wrong, I just want to prove that Villa did the right thing by showing that trust in me.

“Before I signed the contract, I breathed deeply and said no matter what happens, I will never look back.

“I rejected a lot of clubs and then, in my first game, I saved a penalty and had a man of the match performance.

“That is where I’m at now. I told my wife just the other day, I feel like I’m so in love with football again, like I’ve never known before.”

Martinez enjoyed a strong finish to last season with Arsenal and played in this term’s Community Shield but wanted assurances he would be No.1

“I thought if I played well that game, I would be No 1, but afterwards it still wasn’t clear who was going to start in the league,” he said.

“I was told that there was a 95 per cent chance I would start against Fulham (on the first day of the season), but I just thought, ‘why not 100 per cent?’ Something didn’t feel right. Everyone wanted me to stay, but that’s when I decided to go.”