Jurgen Klopp 'doesn't fit' at Arsenal, claims former Gunner David Seaman

Klopp handed in his resignation with Borussia Dortmund but Seaman doesn't feel he will suit the Arsenal way

Jurgen Klopp looks set to leave Borussia Dortmund (Getty Images)

David Seaman doesn't believe Jürgen Klopp would "fit" the mould at Arsenal despite the German manager handing in his resignation at Borussia Dortmund and opening the door to a move to the Premier League.

Klopp made the shocking announcement on Wednesday after a below-par season with Dortmund sees the club languishing down in 10th place in the Bundesliga. This time last year, Arsene Wenger was under mounting pressure to deliver at Arsenal amid growing calls by fans for him to be sacked and an approach for Klopp to be made, only for Wenger to seal the FA Cup trophy and a 17th-straight qualification for the Champions League.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Seaman has never doubted Wenger’s qualities, and believes that fans should remain cautious in calling for someone with the raw emotion of Klopp to come in.

“I don’t know really,” Seaman answers when The Independent asks if Klopp is the future at Arsenal. “My honest opinion is no, I don’t think he would fit the club because of his character.

“It’s just Arsenal like to do things a different way from what he seems to be. I know he’s a bit like [Jose] Mourinho, very animated on the touchline and when you see him. For me, it doesn’t fit, but it all depends on what Arsene wants to do. He knows what he wants, and whether it’s health or whatever, he knows. And he’ll let us know when he wants.”

Wenger’s side have turned around a slow start to the Premier League season to catapult themselves into second place and stand as Chelsea’s closest rivals in the race for the title. The Gunners need their London rivals to slip up – and slip-up big – if they are to have any say in where the trophy is going, and 51-year-old Seaman believes the picture will much clearer once the Gunners have faced the Blues and third-place Manchester United.

“I can’t say yes. They can, but Chelsea have got to have a major hiccup, but the good thing is Arsenal have to play them and play Manchester United,” adds Seaman. “I can give you a better answer having seen them play those two but they’ve got a chance.

Seaman revisits the Arsenal changing room (Getty Images)

“They’ve got a chance that they never thought they’d have when you looked at the start of the season when everything was supposedly going wrong and everybody was shouting for Wenger out. The players believed in him, he believed in what he’s doing – so do I – and he’s shown people what they’re capable of and he does it year in, year out.

“It looks like it’s going to be nice this season because we won’t even have to qualify for the Champions League!”

The former England goalkeeper also cast his eye over the club’s possible transfer dealing in the summer, identifying a weakness at centre-back as well as the troublesome defensive midfielder position. Francis Coquelin has hinted that he could be the solution after returning from a loan spell with Charlton to cement his place in the first-team, but Seaman is concerned that the position looks pretty bare beyond the young Frenchman.

Seaman praised Coquelin for his recent performances (Getty Images)

He says: “People are saying that they need this player and that player. I still think they need a centre-half, like a commanding centre-half, and maybe a Vieira or Toure-type midfield player. Coquelin has been a revelation. He’s done exactly what Arsenal needed and fair-dos, you’d probably give him another season but I think they need back-up in that department. If he got injured, I don’t really know who could step in and play in that position.

“He’s stepped up and I’m glad for him, because he’s shown what he can do now. I heard Thierry Henry calling him our ‘Policeman’ the other day on Sky Sports and he does, he looks after everything and is in charge.

“Where Arsenal have suffered in previous seasons is we’ve had big injuries to our key players and then the guys that come in haven’t been anywhere near as good. That’s where we need to try and get a good balance, having good players that can come in and do a job as well.”

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