Taylor ready to take Seaman's place

Arsenal goalkeeper Stuart Taylor has told boss Arsene Wenger he will step into the breach after David Seaman was injured in the Gunners’ disappointing 1-1 home draw with Ajax.

Taylor wants to deputise for Seaman - withdrawn at half-time last night with a hip injury - at Manchester City on Saturday and then Ajax again in a crucial Champions League rematch at the Amsterdam ArenA next Wednesday.

If Seaman is fit to return against Ajax, the England number one will relieve Wenger of a major headache, with Taylor the only fit and eligible goalkeeper at the club.

New signing Guillaume Warmuz is the only other fit senior goalkeeper - following Rami Shaaban’s broken leg – but he is cup-tied for the Ajax game having played in the Champions League for Lens.

Wenger could turn to teenager Craig Holloway as substitute goalkeeper if Seaman is not fit for the game in Amsterdam.

With Seaman having missed a total of five games this season because of a groin injury – he sat out 31 consecutive matches with shoulder trouble last term - before his latest setback the Gunners may need to turn to their back-up once again.

But Taylor holds no fear of stepping into Seaman’s role for such an important game.

He said: “I’m certainly ready to take Dave’s place again on Saturday if that’s the case.

“We don’t know how serious it is with Dave. He felt his hip in the first half and was signalling to the bench but I’ve not heard about any suggestion he was doubtful before Saturday’s game at Manchester United.

“I’ll have to wait and see but I’ve got a fair bit of experience now after last season when I played enough games to qualify for a championship medal and, really, I need another run in the side to show people what I’m worth.

“When you are at Arsenal behind a keeper like Dave who is one of the best in the world you know your chances will be limited, but I’m just 22 still and time is on my side.

“It is difficult, though, because you know the club is big enough to go out and buy practically any goalkeeper in the world if they need to. You just have to ignore all the speculation you read in the papers.

“Guillaume was brought in last month and I’m back to sharing bench duties with him like I did with Rami Shaaban before Rami broke his leg at Christmas.

“So, naturally, it was a big game against Ajax to come into at half time but I had to do the same when we played Deportivo out there last year. I’ve learned to treat every game the same as any other and I think it pays off for me.”

Victory last night looked a formality when Sylvain Wiltord struck with a clinical finish for his second goal in successive games.

But Ajax were level when Nigel de Jong lashed home a long ball from Jelle van Damme which exposed Ashley Cole’s poor positioning.

Arsenal eventually recovered to dominate possession and Dennis Bergkamp struck a post in his first game against his former club.

But with near misses at either end, few could argue with the visitors’ right to a point.

Ajax boss Ronald Koeman said: “We know Arsenal can play better than this but so can we and I believe there is a chance we can beat them in Amsterdam.

“When Arsenal scored so soon I just hoped the defeat would not be too bad for us but we came back well.”

To make matters even tougher for Arsenal, defender Martin Keown missed the game with a back injury and is battling to be fit to face City.

Meanwhile, midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg appears to have little chance of coming back soon from an Achilles injury despite two recent reserve team outings after being sidelined since late December.

He admitted: “There have been a couple of comebacks but I am frustrated still. I’ve been feeling pain after the matches and there is still some inflammation.”