[ad_1]
DAVID SEAMAN has warned new Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno he must adapt quickly to the physical nature of the Premier League — or risk being Petr Cech’s stand-by.
Gunners boss Unai Emery faces a goalkeeping conundrum this season with Leno battling it out for the No 1 jersey alongside Cech and David Ospina.
Leno, 26, is one of the new faces introduced by Arsenal’s revitalised transfer team, bought for £19.2million from Bayer Leverkusen.
Legendary Gunners shot-stopper Seaman says the 6ft 3in German must shape up fast if he wants to become a Prem success — and force Cech onto the bench.
Seaman, 54, said: “I’m still waiting to see Leno play and then I will make a judgement but you can only tell once they start in the Premier League.
“It’s a totally different pace and physicality, just look at David De Gea when he first came.
Getty – Contributor
Getty – Contributor
“He didn’t realise how physical it was in the Premier League but he adapted to that and really kicked on.
“With Leno, we have to wait and see what happens – if he is number one, we don’t even know who is going to be number one yet.”
Seaman still feels that Cech, a possible transfer target for old club Chelsea, has a lot to offer the club at 34 — urging him to embrace the competition like he did during his 13-year spell with the Gunners.
PA:Press Association
He added: “It will be difficult for him [Cech], no doubt about that.
“He has still got great qualities and it isn’t like he has had a bad season or anything, he still produced.
“Obviously he is getting older but your game adapts, that is what I found.
“Even when I was there people like Stuart Taylor, Alan Miller then Alex Manninger came in.
“Richard Wright also came in on a big-money transfer so I still had competition but I managed to keep my spot, which helped.
“But when you have competition like that it brings out the best in you.”
Seaman also believes Ospina might kick up a fuss if he loses the battle to be the regular Emirates starter.
Ospina, 29, impressed for Colombia as they reached the World Cup 1st 16 in Russia, losing out to England in a shoot-out — but was left out of the pre-season tour squad as they flew to Singapore yesterday.
And Seaman has warned Spaniard Emery that he could be left with an unhappy camper in Ospina if he does not assign his first choice stopper soon ahead of their Prem opener against Manchester City on August 12.
Getty – Contributor
He said: “I don’t think Ospina would be quite happy being a number two because he has been that for quite a while.
“He might even be a number three so I would imagine David wants to play football.
“You can’t spend a big chunk of your career being a reserve – you have got to go out there and see how good you are.”
- l Arsenal Legends v Real Madrid Legends, Emirates Stadium, ko 2pm Saturday, September 8. Tickets via arsenal.com
Getty – Contributor
Share this post if you enjoyed! 🙂
Read more at this link (News Source).
