David Seaman: Arsenal legend on how club are ‘proper contenders’ in title race, hails goalkeeper David Raya's 'calmness'
ByOli Gent
Published 01/11/2024 at 15:17 GMT
Former Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman believes that the Gunners are "genuine contenders" for this season's Premier League title, but they will have to resolve their problem of losing games that they "should win" if they are to topple Manchester City and win a first title since 2004. Seaman also praised their goalkeeper David Raya, saying that he brought a new "calmness" to the Gunners' backline.
‘We’re proper contenders’ – Seaman assesses rise of Raya and Arsenal’s title hopes
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David Seaman has given his verdict on whether Arsenal can really challenge for the Premier League title, and has also heaped praise on David Raya’s performances.
The former Arsenal goalkeeper, who made 405 appearances for the north London club, believes that the Gunners have a “great chance” of lifting the Premier League title at the end of the season, but Mikel Arteta needs to resolve a particular problem if they are to do so.
Arsenal currently sit third in the table after nine games, five points off league leaders Liverpool, who snatched a 2-2 draw at Emirates Stadium last weekend.
Seaman believes that Arteta’s side are more than competent enough to compete with the top contenders, like Slot’s Liverpool and Pep Guardiola’s City, but it is the games that the Gunners “should be winning” that have proved a sticking point.
“Whoever finishes above City are going to win it,” Seaman told Kenny Allstar on TNT Sports’ ‘What I Wore’ show.
“It’s going to be tough. We took four points off City last season. That wasn’t the problem. It was us against the other teams; losing to [Aston] Villa and Brighton and a couple of others. Games that we should have won and we slipped up.
“We’ve got a great chance. We’re genuine contenders. We are proper contenders, which is why I joined this club. We’ve got a chance of winning things.
Last season, Arsenal were in the ascendancy for much of the title race, but slipped to a crucial defeat to Aston Villa in April, while they were beaten heavily by Brighton and Hove Albion 3-0 the year before to practically hand the league to Guardiola’s side.
Seaman also lauded Arteta’s decision to bring in Raya between the sticks, usurping Aaron Ramsdale, who Seaman felt was hard done by considering the England international’s achievements in an Arsenal shirt.
Seaman, who won 75 caps for England, said that Ramsdale had been “brilliant” for the Gunners, but that Raya had brought a newfound “calmness” to the No. 1 jersey at the Emirates Stadium.
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‘It’s true’ – Seaman reveals how close he came to joining Man Utd before Arsenal move
Video credit: TNT Sports
“[Raya] is having a fantastic season already, and that’s on top of what he did last season as well,” Seaman explained.
“He was under pressure when he first came. Aaron was brilliant; there’s no doubt about it. Mikel saw something else that he wanted from a goalkeeper. It was a very bold move.
“It was a surprising move because of what Aaron had done before. He’d got in the Premier League Team of the Season, voted by the players. That shows how good he was. He played five or six games, and then he was out.
“Then David came in and brought a new calmness to playing as a goalkeeper. What I like about him as well is that he’s really confident on crosses.
“When he comes out for them, he’s not just punching it, he’s catching it, he’s claiming it. He’s killing the situation right there.”
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