EMILIANO Martinez has become the latest member of an exclusive group of former Oxford United players who have gone on to be in an FA Cup final squad.
The goalkeeper started in Arsenal's 2-1 victory against Chelsea, more than eight years after the U's handed the goalkeeper his first chance in English football.
- Emiliano Martinez (in black) celebrates victory with Arsenal teammate Kieran Tierney (left) after the final whistle at the FA Cup final Picture: Catherine Ivill/NMC Pool/PA Wire
An injury crisis during the run-in to the 2011/12 season had seen Chris Wilder lose Ryan Clarke and Wayne Brown to injury.
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Connor Ripley's emergency loan was not extended after a poor debut, leading to Martinez - then known as Damian - being drafted in.
The stopper was unable to stop the rot as United went down 3-0 at Port Vale on the final day of the season to see their slim play-off hopes disappear.
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He has since had five other loan spells, but has made the most of an injury to Bernd Leno in recent weeks to claim a run in the side.
Here are others who have played for the U's and gone on to sample an FA Cup final:
- Dean Whitehead: Appeared as a substitute for Stoke City in 2011 during their 1-0 defeat to Manchester City.
- Darren Purse: The centre back was an unused substitute during Cardiff City's 2008 loss to Portsmouth.
- Robbie Mustoe: Came off injured as Middlesbrough went down 1-0 to Chelsea in 1997.
- Mark Wright: Captained Liverpool to a 2-1 victory over Malcolm Crosby's Sunderland side in 1992.
- Dean Saunders: Another member of the Liverpool team in 1992.
- Ray Houghton: Won the FA Cup with Liverpool in 1989 and 1992, having been part of the side upset by Wimbledon in 1988.
- John Aldridge: The striker had a penalty saved by Dave Beasant in 1988, but scored a year later in the victory against Everton.
- Les Taylor: Captained Watford as they lost 2-0 to Everton in 1984.
- Milija Aleksic: A similar story to Martinez - the goalkeeper played two games on loan for the U's in 1976, but five years later went on to start both the final and the replay as Tottenham Hotspur overcame Manchester City.
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