Arsene Wenger is confident Jens
Lehmann will put pen-to-paper on a new contract.
The German goalkeeper is out of contract at the end of the season
and talks over a new deal appear to be making slow progress.
However, Wenger believes Lehmann will commit his future to Emirates
Stadium.
"I expect him to be here. We have not gone into deeper discussions
yet," he said.
The Gunners have endured a disappointing season and look set to end
the campaign without claiming any silverware, but Wenger has been
promised a considerable transfer war chest to spend at the end of
the season.
However, the Frenchman insists he has faith in the youngsters
already at his disposal and does not want to stifle their
development by bringing in too many new players.
Wenger maintains he is only looking to make a couple of new
acquisitions, and only if the right players become available.
"Maybe one or two maximum - and only super, super class because we
have what is needed," he explained.
"If someone is available I would always try to improve my team -
but the basis is inside the club."
Wenger also believes Arsenal's troubled campaign will stand his
current squad in good stead.
He commented: "Maybe in the future we will look back at this season
and think that is where we built a real team for the future. That
is what I hope.
"You judge a potential of a real team by looking at what they do in
the big games - and until February we never under-performed in the
big games.
"We beat Manchester United twice, we beat Liverpool three times and
we have drawn with Chelsea in the Premiership.
"We could not compete for as long as we would have if everybody had
been available, but you need to finish strongly in the second half
and in February it caught us up.
"Of course it is frustrating, but as well it is promising because
we are five to six years younger than everyone else."
