BBC SPORT | Football | Wright seeks new dawn



By Simon Austin BBC Sport Online

Richard Wright arrived at Highbury last summer relishing the prospect of a head-on fight with David Seaman for the Arsenal goalkeeper's jersey.

A season on and he has conceded defeat.

Seaman categorically established himself as Arsene Wenger's first-choice keeper last season and signed a one-year extension to his contract after the World Cup.

Hopefully now he will go on to become the England goalkeeper

Jonathan Barnett
Wright's agent

This prompted Wright to pursue his career elsewhere and he signed for Everton on Wednesday.

At a time when players are criticised for putting money ahead of footballing ambition, the 24-year-old should be commended for accepting a pay cut in the pursuit of regular first-team football.

Wright's agent Jonathan Barnett said: "For him it was not about money or anything.

"It was purely about playing football and hopefully now he will go on to become the England goalkeeper."

Wright agrees Everton move

Because while Wright has given up hope of stealing the Arsenal keeper's jersey from Seaman, he knows an England place is very much up for grabs.

There is speculation that Seaman will soon decide to retire from international football.

He is 38 and has little prospect of playing in another major tournament.

There is no obvious replacement for the Arsenal stalwart.

Arsenal keeper Richard Wright with David Seaman and Stuart Taylor
Seaman (centre) was the clear Arsenal number one
Leeds' Paul Robinson and Chris Kirkland - arguably the two most talented young keepers in the country - hardly ever get a game for their clubs.

And proven Premiership performers like David James and Nigel Martyn have never looked convincing in an England shirt.

So Wright has decided to move to Goodison and stake his claim.

Everton boss David Moyes will think he has done good business in signing Wright for just �4.5m, when he was valued at �6m a year ago.

Moyes will hope he has signed the Wright who was instrumental in helping Ipswich gain a Uefa Cup place two seasons ago rather than the keeper who has looked so bereft of confidence over the past year.

Wright played just 12 Premiership matches in a total of 22 appearances for Arsenal last season.

Even when Seaman was out for a long period with a shoulder injury Wright failed to convince.

During a calamitous few weeks he punched into his own net against Charlton at Highbury as the Gunners slipped to an embarrassing 4-2 defeat.

A routine shot from Gustavo Poyet slipped past him in the North London derby at White Hart Lane and he then made a mistake during a defeat to Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League.

The Gunners only looked defensively sound once young Stuart Taylor and then Seaman replaced Wright in goal.

But while the Arsenal experience did not work out for Wright, he leaves with Premiership and FA Cup medals and has played in the Champions League.

At the same time, his old club Ipswich were being relegated - looking at it that way, joining Arsenal does not seem like a bad move.

Still, Wright will view his transfer to Goodison as a new start.

He was unable to displace Seaman at Arsenal, but he will still hope to take over from him for England.


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