Arsenal keeping an eye on Roa

Arsenal's desperate need for a back-up goalkeeper to England number-one David Seaman may prompt manager Arsene Wenger to entice former Real Mallorca star Carlos Roa to Highbury. Roa has been out of contract with Mallorca since the start of the summer after failing to agree terms for a new deal with the club and is currently training in Palma with Atletico Balears. While Rayo Vallecano, Murcia and Compostela are all interested in his services, he is yet to find a club for the new season. Wenger, who signed Lauren from Mallorca two years ago, recently sold reserve 'keeper Richard Wright to Everton and has been on the look out for a replacement as understudy to Seaman. A bid to sign Uruguay's Fabian Carini on loan from Juventus last week failed leaving Arsenal with only 22 year-old Stuart Taylor on the bench. Roa's talent is undoubted -- he was Argentina's World Cup hero in a penalty shoot-out against England in 1998 -- but his strong religious beliefs that caused him to quit the game for a year three seasons ago may be enough to dissuade Wenger. An Arsenal spokesperson said yesterday: “This is only speculation and, as you know, we never comment on that.”