Following his 200th appearance for Arsenal, Jens Lehmann insisted that he would bow out of the game happy if the game against Blackpool yesterday was to be his last for the Gunners.
The German shot-stopper made a shock return to the first-team line up yesterday after Manuel Almunia picked up an ankle injury during the pre-game warm up.
The 41-year-old could become the oldest player in Arsenal’s history if he is picked to start against Liverpool this Sunday at the Emirates. However, Lehmann is not concerned about John ‘Jock’ Rutherford’s record and insists that is the last thing on his mind. He was quoted in The Sun saying:
‘I didn’t really expect it but it happened and sometimes life is about surprises.’
‘Will I play in the next game? I don’t care because if that was my final game ever, I’m pleased because we won.’
However, the veteran goalkeeper did concede that he is able to keep Almunia on the sidelines for the remaining 7 games of the season:
‘The gap between Manuel and me was quite big at the beginning so I needed just three weeks to be fit. Now I am fit I can keep up physically. Let’s see what happens.’
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I thought it was great to see Jens Lehmann between the posts yesterday. Clearly the German still has the ability and knowledge to play at the top level, and although his kicking ability may have deteriorated, Lehmann performed remarkably well at Blackpool.
His latest performance has no doubt left Arsene Wenger with a headache as the Frenchman must now decide whether he wants to stick with the German or revert back to Almunia (providing he’s fit of course) this Sunday.
Nonetheless, even if Wenger does decide to go with Almunia on the weekend, at least we (the Arsenal fans) got to see the legendary Jens Lehmann perform one last time for the Gunners.
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I hope Lehmann continues to play for Arsenal because I have no faith in Almunia. I know Lehmann could have been sent off against Blackpool but other than that he did really well.