Wenger offers hope to Jens
12 Nov 2007 - 17:21:41
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists uphappy veteran goalkeeper Jens Lehmann still has a future at the Emirates Stadium.
The 38-year-old has once again voiced his frustration with his lack of first-team chances this season and hinted that he will leave the Gunners in the January transfer window.
However, Wenger told the club's official website: "The difficulty of our job is to employ people on Monday and dismiss them on Friday.
"Then on Monday you say 'listen we start again'.
"It is different to the Tour de France where you start with a team and try to bring as many as you can to the end. We start with a team and at the end half of them are out.
"I have tremendous respect for Gilberto as a man and Jens does not want any present. He wants to play because he is the best keeper. I would make it worse to put him in and out again.
"Almunia has been in the team and the team is doing well. It is as simple as that. But he [Lehmann] is up for the challenge because he is 200 per cent professional.
"If the situation is still like that in January then we will see [about Lehmann's future] but we are still in November. November and December is a long time to win your place back."
Lehmann had earlier told Kicker magazine: "Given what the Germany coach says, I will have to see how things are in December.
"I definitely want to play at Euro 2008. Playing there has always been my aim. The Bundesliga is always attractive and is an option and maybe the German second division is too.
"The situation is as it is. It is only important what the manager decides and I am using this phase to train intensively every day.
"The manager knows I am highly motivated. I would like to play again soon and expect that I will do. I would be very surprised if that was not the case."
Lehmann joined Arsenal in the summer of 2003 from Borussia Dortmund and has gone on to make nearly 200 appearances for the north London club.