Who’d have thought? Jens Lehmann is set to make a sensational return to Arsenal. The German has been touted as a short term fix to Arsenal’s goalkeeping crisis. Over the years Jens Lehmann has provided football fans with some extremely amusing moments – particularly when strikers dared to invade his personal space. As well as this, Lehmann has provided Arsenal with some sensational moments that will live long in the memory of their fans. The German goalkeeper arguably played his best football at Arsenal, culminating in his selection for the 2006 World Cup finals. There is never a dull moment with Lehmann around and to celebrate his return, here are 5 iconic moments as an Arsenal player.
And the hero is… German:
Jens Lehmann’s red card in the 2006 Champions League final was a cruel end to his season – particularly considering how Arsenal made it to the final. Jens Lehmann made an outstanding double save from Raul in the quarter finals that sent Arsenal to a semi final tie with Villarreal. Arsenal conceded a 90th minute penalty. It was Lehmann against Juan Roman Riquelme. Impressively, the German goalkeeper clawed the penalty away and Arsenal progressed to the Champions League final for the first time in their history.
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‘That Save’: Cast your minds back to 17 September 2006. Emmanuel Adebayor had given Arsenal a late lead at Old Trafford. Yet if it weren’t for Jens Lehmann Arsenal would have drawn the game 1-1. Shortly after Adebayor’s strike, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer invaded Arsenal’s penalty area and fired into the bottom left hand corner. Somehow – and still to this day, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will not be able to explain how on earth he pulled it off – Lehmann managed to turn the ball wide for a corner. The Manchester United strikers reaction to the save is a priceless moment. Without doubt, one of the greatest saves Premier League fans have witnessed.
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The pantomine antics: What a comedy hero Lehmann was. Nothing epitomised this better than his ‘fight’ with Didier Drogba. It’s a common tactic for strikers to try and distract goalkeepers as corners are taken. Of course, Jens was not a fan of this ploy. It was a moment that promoted laughter, insults and a vast amount of embarrassment for the goalkeeper. Still to this day one wonders how on earth two ‘grown men’ (and men renowned for their physicality and strength) allowed themselves to act in this way, but without question it will go down as one the funniest moments of the Premier League era.
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Lehmann sees red: There are those out there who believe this to be one of the harshest red cards ever received. In strange circumstances, Lehmann was given his marching orders in the 2006 Champions League final. It was clear to everyone that Ludovic Giuly’s tap in should have been allowed to stand after Lehmann was adjudged to have fouled Samuel Eto’o. However, the referee decided to send the German off. It was emotional to watch Lehmann walk down the tunnel with his gloves held to his mouth, a player who knew his last chance at winning a Champions League had just been snatched away from him. Arsenal were defeated 2-1, with Arsene Wenger left to ponder what might have been if Lehmann hadn’t seen red.
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‘Invincible Jens’: In Jens Lehmann’s first season at Arsenal, he and his team completed what many thought was impossible. Lehmann and his team-mates went the whole of the 2003-04 season unbeaten. Without a doubt it was a glorious team effort but as they say, you can’t win anything without a great goalkeeper. Jens Lehmann was a force in goal that season, and on many occasions made vital saves to preserve the record. Such an achievement, in his first season in English football is a fantastic testament to the German goalkeeper. Without question, this was his finest achievement as an Arsenal player.
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Read more of Tom’s articles at the excellent ‘This Is Futbol’
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