Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez admits he pleaded with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to let him leave.
Martinez was excellent towards the end of last season for Arsenal.
However, Bernd Leno is the club's no.1, and was back in the team when he returned from injury.
Martinez wanted game time, and his decision to move to Villa has been justified so far.
He helped them to a 3-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
"I told him [Arteta] I wanted to play week in, week out and he couldn't guarantee who was going to start," said the 28-year-old to reporters.
"Even before the Community Shield, he didn't know who was going to play in goal.
"After 10 years at the club, I didn't want to wait until Friday night, the day before the game, to know whether I was going to play against Fulham [on the opening weekend] or not.
"So I just texted him to say I was going to Aston Villa, so please help me and let me go."
