Wenger tips Seaman for Arsenal return

Arsene Wenger expects David Seaman to return to Arsenal as the club’s goalkeeping coach – but not in the next 18 months.

Seaman was offered the dual role of player and goalkeeping coach last summer, but turned it down as he felt that he would no longer be first-choice in the Arsenal side.

He left for a final fling at Manchester City only for injury to intervene and force him into retirement this week.

Seaman has admitted he would relish the chance to return to Highbury, as he “wouldn’t want to walk away with all my experience without passing it on to anybody else“.

However, he realises “the offer may never come and sometimes it is a case of taking an opportunity when it is there“.

With Arsenal having appointed former Irish international Gerry Peyton as their goalkeeping coach last summer on a two-year deal, there is, indeed, no chance of Seaman making an immediate return.

Wenger confirmed: “I’m happy with Gerry. David knew, when he made the choice, that the position here would not be available for a while.”

However, he added: “I think he will come back to Arsenal one day and will maybe go to the national team as well.

“Certainly he will start with media work first as I think he will take a distance from football for a while.”