David Seaman is adamant Arsenal remain in the Premier League title race, and has urged his former team to step up their challenge by beating Tottenham on Saturday.
Wednesday’s disappointing 2-1 home defeat by Swansea was their third loss in succession, including a Champions League home defeat to Barcelona, and left Arsenal six points behind leaders Leicester with 10 games to play.
If it is not already tempting to believe their hopes of a first title in 12 years are almost over, it will become difficult to avoid that conclusion should they lose to Spurs.
But when asked if Arsenal were out of the title frame after Wednesday’s defeat, former Gunners goalkeeper Seaman said: “All that happened this week was that we lost one extra point to Leicester.
“We had a bad result; luckily everyone around us got beat so we didn’t lose too much ground.
“Losing three on the trot is not the best, but what better way to get your confidence up than by going to White Hart Lane and beating Tottenham? Forget what’s gone on, focus on Saturday and a chance of gaining points on the teams above you.
“Their confidence is low, it will be low, but what a great opportunity on Saturday against Spurs.”
Coupled with disappointing seasons so far for Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City — each who usually challenge for first place — Arsenal’s pursuit of success has been strengthened by the presence of goalkeeper Petr Cech, a summer signing.
A groin injury suffered against Swansea has ruled Cech out of Saturday’s fixture, which could define Arsenal’s season.
But even as the last goalkeeper before Cech to consistently give Arsenal such stability, Seaman, 52, said: “He will be a loss because he’s a quality goalkeeper. But [the way] I look at it, if the back four play well it doesn’t matter who’s in goal.
“I’m so fed up of all this negative stuff about Arsenal. All right, it’s a negative about Petr Cech but David Ospina will come in again, has shown what he can do.
“People thought it was a little bit harsh when he got made the No. 2. He’s not the quality of Petr Cech but let’s just see how it goes.
“[But] we need a win on Saturday, big time.”
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