Arsenal's New Keeper

Step forward 41 year old Jens Lehmann 

Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann set to rejoin Arsenal

Arsenal are close to signing 41-year-old Jens Lehmann for the rest of the season, BBC Sport understands.

Injuries to Wojciech Szczesny, Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone have left Manuel Almunia as the only fit keeper.

The ex-Germany keeper played 199 times for Arsenal between 2003 and 2008 but has been a free agent since retiring in 2010 after two years with Stuttgart.

If the deal is done in time, Lehmann is likely to be included in the squad for Saturday's trip to West Brom.

Lehmann, who played 61 times for Germany, left Arsenal in 2008 after losing his place to Almunia.

The German keeper was part of Arsenal's "Invincibles" - the team that went unbeaten during the 2003-2004 season - helping the Gunners win the Premier League, while he played a key role in their FA Cup final penalty shoot-out win over Manchester United in 2005.

The following year he was sent off in the first-half of Arsenal's Champions League final defeat to Barcelona in the Stade de France.

Before his first spell with Arsenal, the German keeper played for Schalke, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund.

Fabianski, who last played since for Arsenal in the 0-0 draw with Manchester City on 5 January, has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, while compatriot Szczesny will miss the next six weeks after dislocating his finger during the Champions League defeat by Barcelona last week.

And Mannone, who has teen troubled by a thigh injury while on loan at Hull, is also out for six weeks.

The Italian keeper is receiving treatment at the Arsenal training ground.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/12735013.stm

Good entertainment value if nothing else 

I could not believe it when I opened the BBC website and saw that news

They go on about Wenger great scouting system, I think that only looks at players under 20

There goes the title ...

There goes the title ...

Just for a second I thought that was a joke about the thread title!!

Well he is only back up to Alumunia.

There goes the title ...

This, pretty much handed it to the mancs, knew Arsenal would melt one way or another.

So much for "Youth".

To be fair - it could have been Seaman and their have been sightings of Bob Wilson walking without a trolley in Waitrose, North London

They go on about Wenger great scouting system, I think that only looks at players under 20

Have to agree with this, although in saying that... How many keepers could he bring in now.
Should never have got to this point. Arsene seems to have a blind spot for defenders and keepers.
He should only be in charge of the technical players and get someone else to bring in a bit of steel

I think this proves that Winger only knows one type of player.
He's very good at brining in the quick passers and very skill full players but absolute sh*t at putting the players around them with strength and as racerx34 put it steel.

Oh, Arsene.

A bit of a mad one that.  Is Wenger starting to believe that everything he says will just happen?

Three years ago, he said the team he had would be capable of beating 'any' team.  We are now three years on, and it's still not happening.  In a way it is admirable what he is trying to do on a budget, but it's clear that they lack quality in key positions - goalkeeper being one of them.  The last time he splashed the cash (Viera, Petit, Overmars etc), they were winning the premiership.

Also, his comments after the Barca game were surreal.  He thought if van Persie had stayed on then Arsenal would have won - despite not having one shot of any description in the game up to that point.  Bizarre.

Still, two comedy keepers, should be a fun end of season!

I've defended Wenger for plenty of time but now I can't no more. Just buy a defender and a goalkeeper for god sake. Wouldn't cost that much compared to buying attacking players.

Wenger if you ever want to win, you need to spend a little here and there.

Not much else he could do, think he was turned down an emergency loan by the FA. Had to look for a keeper out of contract.

So .... this new Arsenal keeper ... Mr. Jens Lehmann ....

Had too many blunders in the reserve game against Wigan tonight.

Some of them are:
- let a back pass by Sead Hajrovic to bobble over his foot, but was let off as the ball did not head towards goal.
- 19-year-old Callum McManaman rounded him easily to give Wigan the lead in the 53rd minute
- was caught in possession, but for the interventions of team-mate Daniel Boateng, who blocked the resultant shot from Daniel Redmond.
- Joe Holt rounded him in the 86th minute to give Wigan their winner

Maybe Pepe Reina should think twice before moving there.

Can we honestly see our Pepe joining Arsenal?

Would Wenger pay over 20M for one player?
Plus, Reina has said he wants to be winning things.  They COULD still win the premiership, but surely falling out of three competitions in the space of few days should be ringing alarm bells for him.

I heard that Lehmann signed because Bob Wilson failed the medical and they couldn't agree terms with Pat Jennings.