Arsenal legend heaps praise on Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez after missing out on summer transfer

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has heaped praise on Lisandro Martinez after Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Martinez, 25, picked Old Trafford over The Emirates last summer, wanting to link back up with Erik ten Hag who managed him at Ajax.

The Argentine has been a revelation at United after major doubts within the media were placed on his 5 foot 9 inches frame.

United’s centre-back has developed a fantastic relationship with Raphael Varane and produced another phenomenal performance against Crystal Palace at home on the weekend.

One particular highlight came in the later stages of the game – after Casemiro was sent off and United were down to 10 men – when he launched himself in front of a dangerous shot and blocked what was going to be a certain goal to make it 2-2.

“That defender man,” said Wright on Match of the Day. “Martinez at the back, he’s something.”

Gary Lineker added, “[He’s] gritty, gritty. We saw a bit of that in Qatar,” to which the former Arsenal striker agreed, “Yes, yes.”

He won the World Cup with Argentina in Qatar and has returned to club football with the same determination and hunger that he left with.

Martinez will be one of United’s players who will be up for the club’s Player of the Year award should he continue this fine form into the final stretch of the season.

Roy Keane recently claimed that the defender would be a player that he’d want to play alongside – a big compliment from the former United captain.

“He’s got pride in his defending, which is great to see. A lot of the modern defenders know it’s about what they do in possession. He wants to defend, he’s got great pride in it,” he told Sky Sports two weeks ago.

“Obviously the manager has worked with him, we talk about that character, that desire. We’ve seen already the benefits of having him at the club over the last few months.

“He wants to defend. He looks the right character, the kind of lad you want to be in the trenches with. We saw it tonight, United were coasting towards the end but he still wanted to defend.”