Lehmann to go with Arsenal’s terms?
833 comments April 26th, 2007
“I will play another year for Arsenal. This club has a great outlook. For me it’s important to play Champions League.”
So, it looks like Jens Lehmann might be staying at Arsenal after all. I hold my hands up: I’ve said on more than one occasion that I thought he’d be going, and that information came for very well-placed sources.
However, it seems Jens has decided he’s rather a year’s contract at Arsenal than two-years in the Bundesliga, and I have to say I think he’s made the best choice for him. He’s already said he’ll consider his future after Euro 2008, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him call it a day then – at that stage, he’ll be only a few months away from his 39th birthday.
The question remains: is this the best thing for Arsenal? It comes just a day after rumours linking us with Yohann Pele, and only a week after Lehmann was widely blamed for disrupting our defence in the North London derby.
For me, it comes down to a question of finances – if Arsene’s transfer budget is as meagre as sources suggest, then perhaps it’s worth delaying the inevitable to strengthen other areas of the team that require more immediate treatment – I’m looking at the wide areas specifically. Of course, it’s perfectly possible that Jens could stay alongside another new goalkeeper – though that’d be a slap in the face of the current able deputy, Manuel Almunia.
Jens staying would also halt the flow of experience and winning mentality out of the club, which can’t be a bad thing.
Anyhow, at the moment this remains mere speculation. More if and when it becomes fact.
R.I.P. two fantastic Arsenal players, Alan Ball and Arthur Milton, who’ll both be sorely missed.
ps. Good>Evil
