And after a difficult season with the Gunners - who went on to win the Double - Wright agreed a £3.5m (€5.6m) switch to Goodison in search of regular first-team football.

But Wenger believes, as a 24-year-old, Wright should have stuck around and continued to pose a challenge to Seaman, considering the England number one is 38 and nearing the end of his career.

Wenger said: ‘‘Last year we had three goalkeepers who all played at least 10 games, so it was a big blow when Richard left.

‘‘He wanted to play first-team football - which we understand - but I did not want to let him go. In my opinion David Seaman is still the number one but he is at the age where he must stop playing soon.

‘‘If I was a young player I would think that I would get a chance to play.’’

Wenger, who already has England Under-21 keeper Stuart Taylor on the books, brought in Uruguay’s Fabian Carini on a year’s loan from Juventus.

And Wenger is confident the 22-year-old arrival will strengthen competition between the sticks at Arsenal.

‘‘I have not made any assurances to Carini,’’ said Wenger.

‘‘At the moment he is a player who does not play for Juventus. Both he and Stuart Taylor are there to offer a strong challenge.

‘‘But they are not waiting behind a player who is 27.’’