Unai Emery has confirmed that Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez was forced off at half-time at Selhurst Park due to a calf injury.
The goalkeeper was replaced by Marco Bizot at the break after making a smart save in the first half, denying Crystal Palace’s Brennan Johnson.
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Bizot retained the clean sheet after coming on, marking his ninth appearance of the season.
“He has a small injury. A small injury,” Emery said about Martinez after full-time. “I am not a doctor, but it is in his calf.
“He played fantastic in the first half, and then Marco Bizot also played fantastic in the second half.
“Now we will check him with the doctor and hopefully in a few days or weeks he will come back ready to play.”
Martinez had previously pulled out of matches against Feyenoord and Brighton after feeling injured in the warm-ups.
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He also missed games against Bologna, Basel, and West Ham due to injury.
Villa’s first-choice stopper did not feature against Palace in the reverse fixture earlier this season, amid uncertainty over his future on the day before deadline day.
He also missed the season opener against Newcastle United due to suspension, following his red card against Manchester United on the final day of last season.
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