David Seaman says Arsene Wenger must deliver big names, not unknown quantities if he wants trophies.
'Unknown players' aren't doing it for Arsenal, says Seaman
With Emmanuel Adebayor heading towards the Arsenal exit, David Seaman told
Sky Sports News that Arsene Wenger must swap potential for proven talent if he wants to win trophies.
Adebayor, who netted 24 goals last season, has attracted interest from both AC Milan and Barcelona, and should Wenger lose his hitman, Seaman has urged a change of tact in the transfer market.
Wenger has secured the signatures of Marseille's Samir Nasri and teenager Aaron Ramsay for the new campaign but if his side are to clinch silverware this seasom, former Gunners and England goalkeeper Seaman says the Frenchman needs to lure big-name players to the Emirates.
"Knowing Arsene, he will have someone lined up if he's going to sell a player like Adebayor," Seaman admitted.
"But who? Nobody knows. We just seem to be waiting and waiting yet he still keeps signing unknown players, so to speak.
"He then develops them but as we've seen, it's not really worked for the last three years."
Wage structure
Adebayor is believed to have demanded a hefty pay-rise to stay in London, and Seaman acknowledges that the cash-rich modern game, as well as Arsenal's rigid wage structure, has left Wenger's hands tied.
"The wage structure's always been like that at Arsenal," Seaman revealed.
"As players you accepted that - you knew that you could get better money elsewhere but you were playing for Arsenal.
"Now a lot of them seem to be going for the money because they're not winning things."
But Seaman, who made more than 400 appearances in goal for the Gunners, said that while Wenger may be sweating on Adebayor's future, his No 1 jersey is in safe hands with Spaniard Manuel Almunia.
"I saw a big change in him [Almunia] last season," Seaman added.
"He was more confident in his own ability. When he used to come in for the odd game, he looked nervy but now he's got that confidence about him - he looks the part."
