DAVID SEAMAN believes Emiliano Martinez is a chip off the old block.
But the legendary ex-Arsenal keeper has warned the club's No.1 challenger — don’t throw a fit if you’re benched again.
Argentine shot-stopper Martinez has filled in since Bernd Leno’s knee injury against Brighton in June — impressing the Gunners hierarchy.
He has had to wait almost a decade to get his shot at a starting spot for Arsenal, but Seaman – who made 564 appearances for the club – says he needs to remain calm if Leno is brought back into the side.
Seaman said: “Martinez has been out on loan with a lot of other clubs in his career and he has been playing good football. He is still young, only 27.
“I was 26 when I signed for Arsenal and I had a lot of experience before that in first team football. He is similar to me in that respect.
“Mikel has a real decision on his hands. Martinez has all the capabilities and qualities but he has only done it for a short period of time. Leno has done it for a few seasons now.
“It bodes well for the club to have two good quality keepers at the club but how do you keep them happy?
“Martinez has to realise that if Arteta stays with Leno, then he has to accept that. He is at Arsenal. The club cannot just have one good goalkeeper, and Martinez may not be kept in.”
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Seaman played in four FA Cup finals for Arsenal – winning all of them – and believes the occasion against Chelsea at Wembley this afternoon will test Martinez' mettle.
He explained: "Martinez will not have had the pressure of playing for Arsenal in a final, that’s different altogether.
“He goes into a massive game and he will never have played in a bigger one in his career and it’s great if you win but not if you lose. He is playing at Wembley, it’s the ultimate.
“I was hugely nervous ahead of my first one. It was Sheffield Wednesday so it felt like the whole of Yorkshire were coming down to give me stick.
“We had beat them in the League Cup final a few months before, but the nerves before that FA Cup final were immense, and also amazing. It will be a big shock for Martinez.”
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