David Seaman says Arsenal’s upcoming clash with Aston Villa ‘won’t be easy’ but predicts the Gunners will capitalise on the visitors’ ‘leaky defence’ and win 2-0.
Arsenal have bounced back in style after coming through a rocky winter period, with Mikel Arteta’s side riding an imperious 11-match unbeaten streak in the English top flight.
After cruising to a 3-0 victory over Brighton last time out, with Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard on target at the Amex Stadium, the Gunners sit above Liverpool on goal difference at the top of the Premier League table.
The north London giants came out second best when they last met Champions League-chasing Villa back in December, with John McGinn scoring the only goal of the game in only the seventh minute at Villa Park.
However, Villa’s confidence will have taken a knock, with the club picking up just one in four in the league ahead of their trip to the Emirates, and Unai Emery will be desperate for his side to rediscover their form on his old stomping ground.
Previewing the clash on the Seaman Says podcast, legendary ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Seaman said his former club should be wary of the threat posed by a wounded Villa team.
‘[Emiliano] Martinez will be proper up for it, going back to his old club, so it’s a tricky game,’ Seaman said.
‘We’re in the race, we’re bang in the race, so we need to be winning these games.
‘Keep that momentum going and hopefully Villa have got the leaky defence that we have seen in the past.
‘It won’t be easy because with clubs like Villa, where they’ve got a chance of upsetting you, they’re out of all danger… they’re not one of those clubs that try to keep it down to two or three, they won’t be happy with that.’
Asked whether Arsenal will be prioritising the Premier League or the Champions League, Seaman replied: ‘You’ve got to go with the mentality of trying to win both and they’ve got a decent chance.
‘They are in a great position but the league is the one for me, always has been, so Arsenal just need to carry on doing what they’ve been doing.
‘They’re creating chances, they’re creating lots of chances as we saw against Brighton, so it’s good at the moment.
‘I’m going to go 2-0 to Arsenal. A confident 2-0 win.’
Seaman backed Arsenal’s title rivals both to come out on top this weekend, predicting a 4-0 victory for Liverpool over Crystal Palace and 3-0 win for Manchester City at home to Luton.
‘Luton had a great win at the weekend but just with Manchester City machine, I’m going to go 3-0 Man City,’ the former England shot-stopper said.
‘That’s being generous.’
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