In a season of many strange occurrences, the imminent return of the eccentric German goalkeeper, Jens Lehmann, to Arsenal must be one of the most bizarre yet.
Retired for nine months, he has spent more time with his family than he has on a training pitch, and yet he looks set to sit on the bench whilst Arsenal attempt to put their dreadful last week behind them and win the Premier League title.
This has every possibility of being a masterstroke from Arsene Wenger.
Lehmann starred in the ‘Invincibles’ side of 2003/04, and was, by all accounts, a big talker in the dressing room. How Arsenal desperately need someone like that now. There is surely no better person available to come into contact with the team at this point in the season – experience and a winning mentality like the one Lehmann possesses are attributes of great worth in any team.
Therefore as regards to his presence, there can be no doubt of his ability to aid the Arsenal team in what can only be portrayed as a very difficult time. However, one has to wonder about how sensible the signing is on a playing level. To say he is not match fit would be an understatement. To not have even trained for nine months and then be called upon to play in one of the toughest leagues in the world is an almighty ask. Yes, there shall not necessarily be any need for him to play, should Manuel Almunia remain fit, but it would be a real worry if Jens were expected to guard the goal in any game that Arsenal have remaining this season.
A 41-year-old formerly retired goalkeeper dealing with the new Premier League weapon that is Rory Delap’s throw-in at the Brittania would set even the most optimistic Gunner’s teeth rattling.
There is no doubt what the motivation of Arsene Wenger is when it comes to this issue. He obviously sees a man who can inspire and induce a new found spirit in his team. But this is a massive risk.
The Frenchman could have chosen to try and steal any second or third choice goalkeeper from a mid-table club; much like Manchester City did last year with Martin Fulop. Instead, he has gone down the route of sticking to a player he knows. This kind of risk is one which any top manager shall have to take at some point, but this coincides with a time at which Wenger critics spread their vulture-like wings the widest.
It may well come off, and he shall once again be declared a genius. However, should the reverse happen, then the claws shall well and truly be out for Wenger.
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If Wenger get Lehmann, I only see him on the bench as a second choice keeper. The positive thing if Wenger buys him is that he knows how to win trophies, so maybe he will be able to inject some of his winning mentality into the rest of the team.
He will help out only in the dressing room, as for on the pitch, I very much doubt he will see it to be honest