Jens Lehmann has launched a fresh attack on goalkeeping rival
Manuel Almunia by claiming he is not good enough to be Arsenal's
No.1.
The cocky German has been dropped by Gunners chief Arsene Wenger,
who claims he is suffering from a long-standing Achilles
injury.
The French boss has promoted Almunia to the starting line-up and
the Spaniard has conceded just once in three matches.
But Lehmann - who committed howlers in Arsenal's first two Premier
League matches - insists he has proved his fitness by playing for
Germany.
Now the 37-year-old has claimed it is only a matter of time before
he wins back his firstteam place at the Emirates.
He boasted: "I am without a doubt mentally the strongest player at
Arsenal because I have more experience.
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"There will always be a keeper who will play better for two or
three matches but I have never seen anyone do this for 10
games.
"I know that I have an advantage at Arsenal and that I can keep it.
I don't see any young supermen keeping me out.
"I know I will be playing again at Arsenal. The coach will let me
play. He knows it, and I know it - it doesn't matter if I have
another week out.
"I have read that Almunia said he deserves to be the No.1 but until
now he has not won a single important game."
Motormouth Lehmann has also revealed he plans to keep playing until
the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The former Borussia Dortmund star reckons he has been reinvigorated
by Germany's improved form - including the 2-1 friendly win over
England last month.
He added: "If I avoid injuries I can play until the 2010 World Cup.
I am thinking about it, because I know we will be competing for the
title. We have the talent.
"I got the idea after the England match. I thought: with this team
you will be competing for the title and maybe it will be
interesting for you to be a part of it."
Meanwhile, Wenger has defended his decision to sign so many
overseas players during his spell as Arsenal boss.
The Frenchman, who signed a new four-year deal on Friday, said he
needed to bring in foreign talent to keep the club moving
forward.
He said: "When I first signed for Arsenal I had the vision of a
very traditional and very efficient club.
"We have always tried to respect those values but we have tried to
adapt to the modern game.
"That means there is more of a foreign influx and we have become
more international and more sophisticated in our approach."
