Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has rejected claims goalkeeper Emi Martinez is a time-waster.

The Argentine World Cup goalkeeper has been booked five times in his last 10 matches as Premier League referees carried out their threat to clamp down on the unsporting behaviour. Martinez, who was also cautioned during the final against France in Qatar for his antics during the penalty shootout, is a serial offender.

However, Emery said that his No.1 had done nothing wrong. He said: "Emi has experience, is intelligent and is a very good goalkeeper. He is taking time when he is with the ball to play, but I don't think it is wasting time.

“I think he is taking time for the team because maybe in some matches, we are struggling defensively and they are attacking and he had to reduce the danger.

"He was thinking we need to take time to control the game like we planned. Sometimes, you can manage to control the game - keeping possession of the ball - but I do not think it was wasting time."

Asked if his opinion was out of whack with officialdom who have him marked down for the offence, Emery side-stepped the question, adding: “I like the referees here in England, I like a lot. They are very good, professional. They are defending football and people who want to protect the game."