Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery believes Emi Martinez can play at the highest level for another decade and expects the 31-year-old to continue improving with age.

Martinez made his 125th appearance for Villa last weekend in the 3-1 win over Luton Town, before he jetted out to Paris to collect the Yashin Award at this year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony. The Villa and Argentina number one became the fourth winner of the award after Thibaut Courtois, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Alisson.

He signed a contract extension with Villa last year and has since reiterated his ambition to win trophies with Villa and break the club’s Premier League sheet record, held by Mark Bosnich. Emery shares the same goals as Martinez as Villa eye silverware and a push for Champions League football this term.

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“I like it a lot when players speak about what they are feeling, what they want to achieve individually and collectively,” Emery said. “Sometimes I am asking the players in front of everyone, please speak about your wishes and desires, your ambitions.

“Some are more shy than others, but Emi Martinez is always very demanding of himself. In front of other players he is always sending a very ambitious message. I really appreciate it and want to focus him because I am feeling the same.

“When he arrived here after leaving Arsenal, Aston Villa was historically a very good club which won the European Cup. He was thinking he could progress here a lot. When I arrived here I followed his message.

“Always I am sending my message in the same direction. He is very professional, he likes football and feels very good being demanding every day. I think everyone has to follow the message he is sending.”

Since signing for Villa, Martinez has won the Copa America, Finalissima and the World Cup, as well as Golden Glove awards from the Copa America and World Cup, plus the Best FIFA Goalkeeper prize and the most recently the Yashin Trophy. Emery has no doubt that the former Arsenal stopper has come on leaps and bounds since departing the Emirates in the summer of 2020.

“Firstly, he is playing more than he did at Arsenal when we met for the first time,” Emery said. “He was coming back from Spain where he was not playing for Getafe, so he was playing on loan at Reading for six months in the Championship.

“When he started playing for us at Arsenal it was in the Europa League because Leno was the first choice goalkeeper. But then when I finished with Arsenal I went to Spain and he continued to play for Arsenal and he progressed a lot.

“When I arrived at Aston Villa he was already here and he sent me the same message as before – he always wanted to get better individually and with the team. He was playing for Aston Villa and with the national team of Argentina. He is always trying to improve and get better and he still has the same objective to improve himself. I want to keep giving him that same message.”

Emery added: “He wants to achieve something with Aston Villa in the same way as he achieved something with Argentina. To be with a club playing in the best competition possible, here in the Premier League of course.

“And then the next step with Aston Villa is to try and be a contender for a trophy. And then to be a contender for a trophy in Europe. His ambition is in this directi

Asked if Martinez can still improve, Emery replied: “Pepe Reina was playing here [at Villa] in the pandemic and he was 36-37. He is still playing now aged 41. He’s being competitive and delivering performances for Villarreal.

“Now I think players now can extend their careers to a high level – both as goalkeepers and outfield players. At 31 he is still a young man and I think growing in maturity. This only increases with experience.

“You can feel better as you grow older as you face each moment with more confidence. He is more mature than Arsenal five years ago and he is feeling better and stronger as well.”