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Emi Martinez says former Reading goalkeeper Sal Bibbo played a big role in his decision to join the club.
Martinez arrived during the January transfer window on loan from Arsenal until the end of the campaign.
And he has already made a big impression, playing well on his debut in a 1-1 draw at Bolton Wanderers before being voted as the fans’ man-of-the-match as he kept a clean sheet in Saturday’s 0-0 stalemate against Aston Villa on his home debut.
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Joining a club in the Championship relegation is perhaps not the most attractive proposition for a goalkeeper earmarked to replace Petr Cech as Arsenal’s number two goalkeeper next season.
But Martinez, 26, says it was a no-brainer to head down the M4 and join Jose Gomes’ side after a discussion with a familiar face.
“I knew Reading from before,” explained the goalkeeper.
“Salvatore Bibbo is the Arsenal goalkeeper coach and used to work here (from 2006-2015).
“He spoke really good things about the club. Obviously it’s a bit of pressure, but I like challenges.”
He added: “When Reading were interested, Sal was talking about how it was going to be great for me and that it was a great club with great people involved.
“He’d been here so many years and just said go, don’t even think about it.
“I really look up to Sal, he’s a great goalkeeper coach and a great man so he was a major influence in me coming here.
“When (Arsene) Wenger left, so many people were sacked at Arsenal.
“The fact that Arsenal wanted to keep him (Bibbo) in the club, it was for a reason. I’m very pleased that he’s still at Arsenal.”
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Before moving to Reading, Martinez had made just one senior appearance this season, keeping a clean sheet as Arsenal beat Qarabag 1-0 in the Europa League.
And he says he pushed hard to leave Arsenal to get more minutes in the second half of the campaign, with Reading now the Argentinean’s sixth loan club in the past seven years, following on from Oxford, Rotherham, Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday and Getafe.
“I had many offers abroad and in the summer I had many more but Unai (Emery, Arsenal boss) asked me to stay and that it was going to be a really good season for me,” said Martinez.
“He promised me games and unfortunately he didn’t give me the games that I needed. Then when then winter transfer window opened I had a meeting with him and said please just let me go because he didn’t give me the games I needed.
“The Arsenal fans wanted to see me more but the manager just wouldn’t change. I had offers to go abroad but when Reading came up, I pushed the manager to go.”
He added: “I’ve got three more years on my contract at Arsenal.
“Before I left for Reading they said they want me as a backup next season fighting for the number one spot.
“But I’m not thinking about next season or what am I going to do, sign for another club or sign for Reading.
“I’m a Reading player now, I’m concentrated on keeping Reading out of the relegation zone and whatever happens in the summer will happen.”
