Jens Lehmann's blunderous start to the season has not gone
unnoticed by Arsène Wenger - and the Arsenal manager has now said
that the German is no longer automatic first choice goalkeeper when
he returns from injury.
Wenger has a track record of using 'injury' as an excuse for not
picking players when it is clear he is unhappy with them. Ashley
Cole and Thierry Henry hardly played towards the end of their
Arsenal careers, ostensibly because they were 'injured'.
In light of this, the Times are reporting that Lehmann is seeking
to orchestrate a move away from Arsenal to a club where he will be
guaranteed first choice football.
"I don't know how long Lehmann will be out," Wenger confirmed.
"He's never happy when he's injured and he's never happy when he's
not playing."
When asked if he could guarantee Lehmann would be Arsenal number
one this season, Wenger said: "You're asking me to say something
that I can never say."
"You asked me to give a message to Almunia that, no matter how he
plays after a few games, he will be automatically out. You can
never say that; that means his performance is not important.
"We are in a competitive world. Of course, at the start of the
season, you have a number one and then a number two comes in and
you have to give him a chance. I think Almunia is good enough to
give me a problem. You go from game to game and there is no
guarantee for anybody."
"I have the highest respect for Jens. I bought him here at 33 and
made him number one, and since he has always been number one. When
he is fit I have to assess the situation. There is no guarantee for
anybody. We are in a competitive world."
wow i loike! Almunia has a chance
now that he CAN be number one.
