Former Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman has backed current Gunners stopper Manuel Almunia to retain the number one jersey at the Emirates despite coming under-fire for recent form.
The Spaniard, who is yet to be capped at international level, took over the keeper duties from eccentric German Jens Lehmann, and Seaman, who earned the nickname ‘Safe Hands’ during his time at Highbury, believes that the confidence shown in him by Wenger should help him through this current weak patch.
Arsenal have been linked with several goalkeepers in the recent past with France stopper Hugo Lloris and Stoke’s Dane Thomas Sorensen both tipped as possible successors. With Polish international pair Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny and Italian under-21 international Vito Mannone also on the books, competition is certainly healthy at the Gunners’ Hertfordshire training base.
Speaking about Almunia to Sky's Goals on Sunday programme, Seaman reflected:
"I've coached him (Almunia) a little bit.
"He's realised that he is no 1 now. He's had a little lack of confidence. He and (Jens) Lehmann weren't the best of friends.
"He was in sometimes, sometimes he was left on the bench when he thought he should have been playing.
"Now he has become the No 1 he is slowly realising that and when you see him on the training ground he has got a bit of an aura about him. For me he's doing ok.
"He's got three top-quality international goalkeepers above him in Spain, so he's not getting international experience but the experience he is getting at Arsenal is invaluable."
Almunia will be in action with Arsenal on Wednesday night as they resume their Champions League campaign against Porto.