David Seaman impressed by seven Arsenal players as he delivers title prediction
David Seaman has hailed "fantastic" Bukayo Saka and named six other players who have impressed him the most as Arsenal push for their first Premier League title in 19 years.
The Gunners currently sit eight points clear at the top of the table ahead of their clash with Leeds on Saturday. Second-place Manchester City have a game in hand on Arsenal and can close the gap by beating Liverpool in the early kick-off.
But Mikel Arteta will know the trophy is in their hands as the Gunners attempt to break their almost two-decade long drought without a Premier League title. They have won 22 of their 28 matches so far - and Gunners legend Seaman heaped praise on Saka as someone who has excelled this season.
Saka, 21, became the first player to notch double-figures for goals and assists in the top-flight following his performance against Crystal Palace before the international break. The Ealing-born winger also struck for England against Ukraine in a Euro 2024 qualifier on Sunday.
When asked about who has impressed him, Seaman, who was speaking as part of Fishing Republic's partnership with Shakespeare Fishing and the Angling Trust, told Mirror Football : "Obviously, Saka, there is no doubt about that. He is a fantastic player. When you see him now and with all he's been through in football, you sort of treat him as an experienced player. He's only 21 isn't he?
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Bukayo Saka has been exceptional for Arsenal this season (Getty Images)"He is about to sign a massive deal at Arsenal and he is producing every weekend. There’s a few, Aaron (Ramsdale) has been doing brilliantly in goal. When I look at the spine at Arsenal, you look at Saliba, he was almost a new signing at the start of the season. He was out on loan and no-one really knew what he was going to be like. He has been brilliant this season. Odegaard has been fantastic, and then you've got Saka.
"Everything is going really well because even the signings we have bought in. You look at Zinchenko, Jesus, they are really top quality players. Jorginho as well, players that have won the league before, know what is expected and know what to tell the other guys."
Aaron Ramsdale and David Seaman (Getty Images)Arsenal enjoyed a blitz of early success under Wenger when he was appointed in 1996, winning the Premier League three times in his first eight years. However, for one reason or another, the Gunners haven't won it since.
They have finished inside the Champions League places in 20 of the last 25 seasons and almost won the competition back in 2006 when they fell to Barcelona. Seaman, who made 500 appearances for Arsenal before retiring in 2002, has explained why it has taken so long to become title challengers again.
"It's tough. Under Arsene Wenger, they went Invincible, got to the Champions League final, but haven't been in contention for the league title since then," Seaman said. "Maybe focus has changed towards the Champions League? I don't know and wasn’t at the club then.
"Obviously the new stadium came in and money wasn’t as available as people thought, but now, there hasn't been masses of money but it has been handled really well by Mikel Arteta. The transfer dealings have been brilliant, they haven’t cost a load of money.
Mikel Arteta has turned things around at Arsenal (Getty Images)Will Arsenal win the Premier League this season? Let us know in the comments below!
"They haven't wasted money, they have got tried and trusted Premier League players actually into the team. Everything is going all right and Mikel has been given a chance. There was a stage last season where people were asking serious questions about whether he should stay on.
"I think it was when they lost the first three games of the season and there were serious questions about him. But he has come through that. He was saying 'trust the process'.
"The fans were asking: 'What process? We don't know what you're on about'. But the fans are totally behind Arsenal and the atmosphere at the ground is amazing. So it should be. We just want the cherry on top of the cake now, which is the Premier League."
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This weekend could prove to be pivotal in the title race. Arsenal face Leeds and Manchester City host Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp's Reds have been much-improved of late despite their 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth and beat Pep Guardiola's side in the reverse fixture back in October.
David Seaman with Tony Adams and Oleksandr Zinchenko (Getty Images)Seaman is a boyhood Leeds fan and will be wearing his half-and-half scarf to the game, but is routing for the Gunners to win and continue their title hunt. Arsenal travel to Liverpool next weekend as they enter a tough run of fixtures on paper.
"It's a big weekend because Man City play Liverpool and Arsenal play Leeds," Seaman continued. "There could be a nine-ten point difference and it is a massive weekend. I would say Arsenal are in the driving seat with the points they have ahead of City, but it’s far from over. It could be a really defining weekend if City don’t win and Arsenal do.
"Everyone would say Arsenal will beat Leeds, as much as I am a Leeds fan, I will be at the game and wearing my half-and-half scarf. I don't care what people say! It's going to be a big weekend, but if City win it's back to normal. Arsenal need to win and they need to keep that gap for as long as possible.
"We have got Man City away, Liverpool away and Chelsea at home as well, so that's three big games where you don't really know which way the scoreline is going to go."
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