Marco Bizot makes Emi Martinez promise after impressive Aston Villa debut

The £6million summer signing from Brest made big early saves from Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon, before then denying the latter again in stoppage time after the home side had been reduced to 10 men following Ezri Konsa’s sending off.

Martinez is back available for next weekend’s trip to Brentford and likely to be recalled but Bizot, a regular starter throughout his career to this point, is ready to offer serious competition.

He said: “I know what I am here for. I know my role. I am here to support him and get him as well to the highest level possible, to push him. 

“I try to learn from him and I think we’ve had a really good relationship from day one. 

“I think we can work well together and for me, it is a pleasure to work with him. I’m going to try and push him as much as possible.”

Martinez’s future was the subject of speculation earlier in the summer but the expectation now is the two-time Yashin Trophy winner will remain at Villa Park.

Speaking about their relationship, Bizot said: “Every goalkeeper has his own style, his own ways and experiences. 

“I have a lot, he has a lot and if I want to learn, I look at him, what he is doing, how he behaves and moves, his technique. 

“He is the one who has for a couple of years been the top goalkeeper in the world. It is a pleasure to see what he does.

“He’s a good guy and we can work well together. It is just the beginning because I have only just got here but it is absolutely great to work. Now, we have to keep going.”

Bizot saluted Villa’s spirit after they held on for a point despite going a man down when Konsa was dismissed for pulling back Gordon.

“If you fight like this, if you have this spirit, you can take the clean sheet,” he said. “There were blocked shots. Everyone tried the maximum possible to stop them scoring. 

“When you have a team like this, that feels like this, it is brilliant to play with.”

Bizot continued: “This is the highest level I have experienced in my career. Everyone is brilliant, everyone is amazing. 

“There are so many details they care about here. I have never experienced anything like this in my career. It has been brilliant to be part of it. 

“Has it been everything I expected? No, more. I expected less because I experienced less.

“But the first moment I came here, the first contact, it was already from the highest level possible and the highest care. 

“If you do this as a club, you get what you give. For me, I want to give back to the club because they give so much.”