'Maybe we need boxing gloves' - Unai Emery explains what Aston Villa are doing to combat set piece chaos
Unai Emery has joked goalkeepers will soon need to be seven feet tall and wear boxing gloves after revealing what Villa’s Emi Martinez is doing to avoid more corner chaos.
Villa have conceded from corners in their past two matches, with Martinez’s failure to hang on to the ball gifting Arsenal their opener in Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium.
Set pieces have increasingly been an issue for the keeper all season and Emery believes referees are now being “soft” in their decision-making and not offering as much protection as before.
Martinez has been working with the club’s goalkeeping coach Javi Garcia to try and best deal with opponent's "blocking" tactics.
Emery said: “They (opposition players) are touching the keepers, they are pushing the keepers and it is not a foul.
