Arsenal’s new longest serving player revealed after Emi Martinez leaves club to sign for Aston Villa

ARSENAL have a new longest-serving player after Emiliano Martinez joined Aston Villa… Mesut Ozil.

FA Cup hero Martinez, 28, had been the Gunners’ most loyal player with over seven years in the first-team under his belt prior to his departure.

Arsenal’s longest-serving players after Martinez’s exit

Martinez had been Arsenal’s longest-serving player prior to his exit to join VillaCredit: EPA

But with the Argentine now set to leave – joining Villa in a £20million deal – the club now has a new longest-serving star.

That honour goes to Ozil, who has been frozen out in recent months under Mikel Arteta.

The German playmaker, 31, joined the Arsenal in September 2013 in a £42m move from Real Madrid.

With seven years Emirates experience, Ozil is now quite comfortably the longest serving player in Arteta’s squad.

Hector Bellerin is second with just over six years in the Arsenal first-team following his move from Barcelona.

However, the Spaniard has been at the club longer, but spent a year away on loan in that time – a season-long stint at Watford in the 2013-14 season.

Calum Chambers comes in third having joined just one month after Bellerin signed his Arsenal contract in 2014.

The defenders has been plagued by injuries, while also being sent on loan to Middlesbrough and Fulham in his time at the Gunners.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles – a summer target for Wolves – comes in fourth, having made his Arsenal debut five years and eight months ago.

Backup stopper Matt Macey takes the final spot in the top five with just over five years at the Emirates.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk