FOOTBALL has a nasty habit of making scapegoats out of people - just ask England goalkeeper David Seaman.

Not so long ago, Highbury's number one was a hero throughout the land after his heroics against Argentina in the World Cup secured our safe passage through to the knockout stages of the greatest tournament on the planet.

But how things have changed as we prepare to travel to Highbury on Saturday, for the veteran stopper has suddenly turned into public enemy number one - and all because of a couple of simple mistakes.

Seaman was made to suffer at the hands of some cheap back-page humour when he was blamed for Ronaldhino's winner in England's defeat by Brazil in June.

But that was nothing compared to the way the tabloids slaughtered him last week when he was deceived by a corner from Macedonia's Artim Sakiri at Southampton's St Mary's Stadium.

In one paper, his face was superimposed on a can of baked beans under the headline 'Has Bean.'

In another, a pair of his gloves were displayed under a 'For Sale' notice. That treatment reminded me of another tacky tabloid attack on Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez who had his 'mug' electronically placed on a woollen Clanger puppet from the 1970s kids TV show last season following a series of high-profile gaffes for the Reds.

As far as I'm concerned, those cheap shots are cruel and totally unjustified.

Everyone makes mistakes in football. If you're a defender, it's a mis-timed tackle. If you're a midfielder, it's a stray pass. And if you're a striker, it's a wayward finish.

But, with goalkeepers, if they make a hash of a certain situation then, more often than not, it leads to their side conceding a goal, which is why they seem to come in for such severe criticism.

Seaman could have a magnificent tournament and win man-of-the-match in every single game but if he then makes a blunder, it's that which people remember him for.

That's why I'd never be a keeper and that's why I still hold Dave in the highest possible esteem.

Everyone seems to have forgotten that England were very disappointing against Brazil and Macedonia but it's easier to point the finger at one specific person rather than a whole team.

I still think Seaman is one of THE top goalkeepers in the Premiership and he certainly has my support.

It would be a crying shame if the tabloid Press forced him into international retirement.

But whatever happens over the next few months, don't let a couple of errors tarnish the reputation of one of the finest keepers this country has ever seen.

At the end of the day, he's only human - just like the rest of us!

We're on a High

SO it's back to Highbury this weekend and I'd love to score twice again like I did down there last season.

That was one of the Premiership games of the season when we came away with a 3-3 draw.

Arsenal are a brilliant team, but they are far from invincible as the events of the last few days have proved.

So who's to say we can't make it a hat-trick of wins on Saturday?