Mad Jens back for Bolton?

[GOREVS3000]

Anyone else besides me think he has lost his starting job? I know Almunia has played out of position a few times, the most obvious was vs Spurs, but I think he's performed well so far.


http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_2800516,00.html

[+Gooner+]

That is Wenger's decision. He has not made a statment on who is our no one yet and since lehmann was great against Ireland he should be considered. I would prefer him against Bolton, Mancherster United and Liverpool if he plays anywhere close as good as he did yesterday.
Almunia is nothing but a fine backup keeper.

[DaPrince84]

I would not mind it at all

[Skizz]

Seeing that he nearly got chipped by Lee Carsley on Saturday, I think Almunia will play.

[+Gooner+]

Seeing that he nearly got chipped by Lee Carsley on Saturday, I think Almunia will play.

Er, what? He was well positioned and in the end it was an easy catch. He was flawless but how often did Almunia have bad moments? If that is the current form of both its Lehmann for me all the way.
So far Lehmann was injured and Almunia deputised him. Now that Lehmann is back and obviously in great form Wenger can do whatever he wants because he never made Lehmann no two nor did Lehmann sit on the bench.

[bostonf4lyf]

Now that Lehmann is back and obviously in great form Wenger can do whatever he wants because he never made Lehmann no two nor did Lehmann sit on the bench.

:confused:

[Skizz]

Er, what? He was well positioned and in the end it was an easy catch. He was flawless but how often did Almunia have bad moments? If that is the current form of both its Lehmann for me all the way.
No, he came out, then backtracked and had to tip it over the bar. You must have been looking at a different incident, he overcomplicated it terribly.

And you're right, Almunia DID have bad moments, he's had the odd one this season, none of which have cost us points and goals like Lehmann's frivolous inability to kick and catch a ball. Why bring him back, we have won 10 in a row without him playing and to do so would send a message to the team saying that, no matter how well you are playing, you will still be dropped if someone who is injured comes back.

[impalemeplz]

i dont think wenger is old school enough to drop almunia for the former number 1 coming back from injury.

the decision doesnt look at all hard to make for AW.

[+Gooner+]

No, he came out, then backtracked and had to tip it over the bar. You must have been looking at a different incident, he overcomplicated it terribly.

And you're right, Almunia DID have bad moments, he's had the odd one this season, none of which have cost us points and goals like Lehmann's frivolous inability to kick and catch a ball. Why bring him back, we have won 10 in a row without him playing and to do so would send a message to the team saying that, no matter how well you are playing, you will still be dropped if someone who is injured comes back.

Oh, you mean that really good save he made from a cross that turned out too long and almost hit the left top corner? This is incredibly hard to deal with for a goalkeeper. Look at the England vs Germany game. Robinson did it the wrong way. Lehmann did exactely the right thing.

Lehmann doesn't have an inability to kick and catch the ball. He made two mistakes but it is just ridiculous how people turn this into him suddenly being unable to make saves. He was excellent against Irland.

No matter how well you play? Right. If Almunia would actually play exceptionally well I would say he deserves a chance. But he doesn't. He got bailed out by the defense so often and has not been really tested so far. Or rather, as soon as things got a bit difficult or the defense messed up a bit he conceded a goal. I don't think Wenger will put up with a mediocre goalkeeper for long if he can have Lehmann in good form back. He knows Almunia crumbles under pressure and I am not looking forward to see him play against the likes of Manchester United.
I don't know of he will play Lehmann against Bolton. Maybe he wants to test Almunia against the big teams. At least he will have a good reason to put Lehmann back into goal after Almunia did what he has usually done when it really mattered so far. Crumble under the pressure.

[+Gooner+]

:confused:

He left himself all the option open. If he had decided that Almunia was his no 1 when Lehmann was injured he would have just said so and given Almunia the shirt. Now he can drop Lehmann officially or just put him back in goal because after all Lehmann was injured, he didn't sit on the bench as no 2 and is now back. I think that was quite cleverly done by him.

[Skizz]

If he had stayed on his line and tracked the flight of the ball properly he wouldn't have had a problem. It was hardly a "really good save", it was a recovery from an error.

The problem with goalkeepers, however, is they are not judged on the saves they make. They are judged on the saves they do not make. He made a big mistake against Fulham and a bigger mistake against Blackburn. Now put yourself in Wenger's position. If Lehmann had been fit for the Citeh match, do you think he would have swapped in Almunia, a keeper he said played well enough last year to be number one? Or persist with Lehmann, and hope it's a case of "third time lucky"?

The point I am making is that Wenger was lucky enough to not need to make that decision. Lehmann lost his place through injury, Almunia is now our goalkeeper of a 10 match winning streak and just because Lehmann had a solid game (bar that misjudgement) against Ireland does not automatically mean that Almunia should be ousted.

Both of them are as bad as one another in reality.

[Skizz]

Well here's his opinion on the matter anyway:

Jens Lehmann says he expects to be back in the Arsenal side for next weekend's game with Bolton.

The experienced custodian has not played in Arsenal's last nine games because of injury.

Lehmann made a successful return to action for Germany on Saturday keeping a clean sheet in the goalless draw with Republic of Ireland as the Germans became the first side to book their place at next summer's Euro 2008 finals.

Manuel Almunia has impressed between the sticks for Arsenal in Lehmann's absence, keeping six clean sheets in nine games.

It has been suggested Lehmann had lost his No.1 spot to Almunia, but Lehmann has rubbished the claims and insists his absence was down to injury and that Arsene Wenger will restore him to the starting line-up next week against Bolton.

"It was my first game after a couple of weeks and you never know how sharp you are and how focused and concentrated you are," Lehmann told Sky Sports News.

"I think I felt quite good and I performed quite well.

"I think I will play hopefully next week because I am fit now.

"I was injured, it was the first time since I am at Arsenal and I expect the boss to play me."

Lehmann also ridiculed talk that he had been left out by Wenger after some indifferent displays this season.

Lehmann added: "Did you see me sitting on the bench once? I think some journalists are losing their intelligence about a couple of weeks.

"I have not spoken to him (Wenger) but I expect him to play me again, yes."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_2800516,00.html

[+Gooner+]

"Both of them are as bad as one another in reality."

The difference is that Almunia in good form, or the form of his life he should be in right now, is only just as good if at all than Lehmann in bad form. Lehmann in good form kicks Almunia's arse so badly it is not even funny.
I also don't agree Almunia was good enough last season to be our no 1 keeper. He "only" played cup games in which the pressure is not that high. Now he has to prove himself in the league again and doesn't look too covincing. Better than last time when he was a complete desaster but definitely like a top notch goalkeeper. Hes got a defense that is helping him a lot in front of him and the rest of the lads finally remembered how to score.

But I would understand if Wenger would give him another chance against the big teams that would be an actual challenge where he had to step up, cope with the pressure and maybe show that he can make an impossible save or not concede goals if someone shoots at him below his waist.
It is very unlikely he will do well though, so if not against Bolton I expect Lehmann to be back within the next three or four games.

[mavandgoose723]

I say leave Almunia. Maybe were playing better because the players have more confidence in Almumias shot stopping ability, or maybe were playing better because they dont have any confidence in him and try to keep him from having to make saves. either way its lead to 10 wins on the trot. Lehmann has singlehandedly dropped us points, almunia has not. If it aint broke, dont fix it.

[tim_love99]

I'd be very surprised if Jens came back into the team. There is no point changing anything at the moment, although I would much rather that Jens is the goalkeeper when the times get tough.

[SHADEY]

I can understand the both arguments, but really it comes down to the fact that we are in the middle of an excellent patch. Why alter things at the moment?

I know Jens has been among the best keepers in the world over that past 3 years. I would say the same for Gilberto at DM. But the team with Almunia and Flamini has won 10 in a row and I would be opposed to changing at the moment.

[Skizz]

I think Lehmann's going for some sort of record for seperate quotes in seperate papers this week:

Arsenal's Jens Lehmann has hit out at Manuel Almunia's claims that he is a better goalkeeper than the Germany international.

Lehmann, who has been struggling with injury, has not featured for The Gunners since the away draw at Blackburn Rovers on 19th August.

Earlier in the season the German shot-stopper produced a number of high-profile blunders and could well face a fight to reclaim his place in the Arsenal side when he returns from an injury lay-off.

Manuel Almunia has deputised for the injured Lehmann, and has impressed in managing six clean sheets in nine games.

The 37-year-old is unimpressed at Almunia's 'disrespectful' comments claiming that the Spaniard should rethink his position.

"It's the first time I have not been playing and that is due to an elbow injury and Almunia has now said he is the better goalie," Lehmann told The Sun.

"But if I join a team in which No.1 goalie has been the No 1 for years and also won titles and then I fail to perform, I find those remarks disrespectful."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_2798573,00.html

Jens Lehmann insists he will soon usurp Manuel Almunia between Arsenal's posts, as pressure grows on the veteran from the international arena.

The oft controversial German has failed to reclaim his starting spot since picking up an injury back in August against Blackburn, with his form prior to the Rovers game less than impressive.

He has, though, managed to keep hold of his place in the national side but pressure is growing on him to be playing first team football in the build-up to Euro 2008.

Several prominent figures in the German set-up have expressed their view that a move in the January transfer window could be beneficial, if Lehmann is still warming the bench in the New Year.

But Lehmann, never short of confidence, has vowed to bounce back and reassert his position as Arsene Wenger's first choice.

"I know I will play for Arsenal again and think it may well be in our next game," Lehmann told the Daily Mail.

"Maybe this break has been good for me. Maybe I needed it. I never like being out of the team, but look what happened last time.

"The manager left me out for a few weeks three years ago and when I got my place back, I ended up having the best season of my career.

"I feel ready to come back and play to the same level again. Playing is important, of course, but there is no substitute for quality."

While Lehmann remains settled in North London for the immediate future, his long-term plan is to return to Germany and the Bundesliga.

"My wife and I miss Germany and if I still feel able to play at a high level after the Euro finals, I would like it to be with a Bundesliga club."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_2796710,00.html

What I think is...if he's planning on leaving anyway, perhaps Almunia should stay in the team for continuity purposes?

[KirbyNYC]

Well here's his opinion on the matter anyway:



http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_2800516,00.html

Just watched the video of this interview on SkySports.com. Boy, did he look determined. I'll lay down my allegiance now: Bring back the Mad German! :D

[Skizz]

He looked PISSED at the dropped question :D

[+Gooner+]

Skizz, the quotes are all from just one German interview. He never talked to the Sun or whatever English paper was mentioned. I don't know why they are allowed to write that he talked to them even though they just, badly, translated a Spiegel interview. :confused:

Anyway, continuity? If you are looking for continued goalkeeping mediocrey then yes, why not. I would prefer to get the most out of Lehmann's last season for us. Right now he us bursting with motivation and selfconfidence, just like when he came back three years ago.