Ex-Arsenal retired goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is now ex-retired Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. It's strange where a team can go in just a few weeks - Arsene Wenger's side had unearthed what appeared to be their goalkeeper of both present and future in 20 year-old Wojciech Szczesny, and although he'd had a few wobbles looked promising enough that the days of Arsenal goalkeeper crisis seemed over. Dani Alves decided otherwise, dislocating the Pole's finger with a blistering free kick that sent Szczesny to the trainer's room, where he joins Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone as long-term absentees between the sticks for the Gunners.
Jens Lehmann To Sign With Arsenal For Rest Of Season
In case you weren't counting, that leaves just the erratic Manuel Almunia (who, admittedly has been spectacular since his return) as a first-team goalkeeper available for selection by Arsene Wenger, who had to resort to naming youth teamer James Shea as a backup in his side's 2-0 FA Cup loss to Manchester United last weekend. Arsenal clearly had to make a move to at least provide some cover, and instead of trawling the lower leagues for an emergency loan, they instead courted an old friend, coaxing Jens Lehmann out of retirement to rejoin the club until the end of the season.
According to Wenger:
Lehmann is training with us and will sign for the rest of the season. We have no cover in the Premier League, so that is why I decided to bring Jens back. He has not signed, but it [a contract] has been agreed.
While it’s tempting to pick at that logic, the truth of the matter is that unless Arsenal have indeed been cursed by a vengeful goalkeeping god (I guess that isn’t entirely out of the question), Lehmann is highly unlikely to see any time with the Gunners. I’d expect him to serve solely as Almunia’s backup, and when you make a move for someone just to sit on the bench relying on nostalgia to be your guide isn’t the worst thing in the world.
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