Martin Keown slammed Mikel Arteta’s reported decision to offload Emiliano Martinez and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
The Arsenal duo have been put up for sale by Arteta and the Gunners are in talks with Wolves over the signing of Maitland-Niles.
Club chiefs think they can fetch £20m for Martinez as Arteta still considers Bernd Leno his undisputed No.1 goalkeeper despite the back-up’s excellent performances in his absence.
Martinez was superb for Arsenal in their Community Shield triumph over Liverpool on Saturday and former Gunner Keown blasted the idea he or Maitland-Niles could be surplus to requirements.
‘It’s crazy,’ he said on BT Sport. ‘You’re developing players – Maitland-Niles, the goalkeeper – [who are] going to be sold?
‘These are just the players that Arsenal fans are looking at and wanted for years.’
Arsenal rejected a £15m bid from Wolves for Maitland-Niles this week and are holding out for £20m for the attacker, with Newcastle also interested in the 23-year-old.
Martinez is Arsenal’s longest serving player and determined to keep hold of his starting place even with the return of Leno to the squad.
Aston Villa are thought to be one of the sides keeping tabs on Martinez, who would prefer to stay at Arsenal rather than search for regular football elsewhere.
Keown insisted Martinez should be considered the No.1 goalkeeper at Arsenal after an excellent spell in the side.
‘I know Arsene Wenger always considered him his future No.1. He’s always been considered a really good goalkeeper.’
