Seaman Critiques Modern Goalkeeping and Praises Arsenal’s Raya

omidbasir- During a recent appearance on the Beast Mode On podcast with Adebayo Akinfenwa, former goalkeeper David Seaman shared his thoughts on contemporary goalkeeping, expressing particular annoyance towards those who celebrate saves too exuberantly. He mentioned Gianluigi Donnarumma as an example, stating, “Although Donnarumma is one of my favorites at the moment, I find it irritating when he celebrates some half-decent saves. When I see goalkeepers celebrating after making a routine save, I think: ‘Come on, you’re better than that.’ Save your celebrations for moments that truly matter! It really frustrates me.”

Seaman went on to commend current Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, noting his impressive consistency as the Gunners pursue their first Premier League title since 2004. Arsenal is currently positioned six points ahead of Manchester City in the standings.

Reflecting on Raya, Seaman remarked: “He’s making some significant saves. There was a moment when he executed a remarkable double save—he arched back to touch the ball onto the bar, got up quickly, and saved the follow-up. This season, he also made an incredible save against Brighton, where he managed to deflect a well-placed shot that hit the bar.

“With David, you’re getting a goalkeeper who is incredibly consistent. He has adjusted well to being an Arsenal player. Prior to this, as a Brentford goalkeeper, he faced a lot of challenges. He took over from a fan-favorite in Aaron Ramsdale, which added pressure to impress the supporters while also proving himself as a capable goalkeeper. He found his footing during that first season, and since Aaron’s departure, he has truly settled in.

“I really enjoy watching Raya play; he demonstrates calmness and confidence. His journey is also noteworthy—he joined Blackburn at 16 and has worked his way through various levels of English football, which certainly contributes to his current performance.”

Seaman also urged Arsenal to prove their critics wrong by clinching the Premier League title. “I believe they can win the title. I’m eager for them to succeed, especially due to the noise surrounding them. There seems to be a lot of resentment or jealousy aimed at the club, but to silence the doubters, they must secure a trophy.

“Throughout my career, I often found myself in a position of proving others wrong, starting from the age of 19. That’s why I want Arsenal to win the league—to finally achieve it. However, it’s not going to be easy; it’s a tough challenge. Once they do succeed, they could potentially go on to win even more.”

Despite Seaman’s optimism, it is worth noting that Arsenal has only secured two wins in their last five league matches, suggesting some inconsistency at the top of the table.

Listeners can catch every episode of the Beast Mode On podcast on the official YouTube channel or tune in via Spotify.