Lehmann: Keepers need more protection

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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
17 Oct	5:45 PM	CL	Cska Moscow (A)	0	1	Lost

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has demanded that goalkeepers should be given greater protection in the wake of the horrific injury to Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, and a similar sickening headclash that knockd out understudy Carlo Cudicini.

"First of all let me say I hope both Carlo Cudicini and Petr Cech recover quickly," he said. "I really felt sorry for both keepers. It made me really, really angry too."

The German international also condemned television pundits who routinely dismiss dangerous play against goalkeepers as 'clumsy'. Lehmann stated that "the word clumsy makes me really angry as well because these stupid pundits on TV say sometimes 'it's clumsy' and 'it's a man's game'."

The injuries to the two Chelsea keepers follow on from Newcastle number one Shay Given suffering a tear in his bowel after a 'heavy challenge' from West Ham striker Marlon Harewood earlier in the season. Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer almost missed the World Cup after suffering a broken cheekbone in a similar clash to that of Cudicini, which also happened against West Ham.

He is calling for referees to stamp out this sort of behaviour against goalkeepers. Ever since he joined Arsenal the keeper has been subjected roughing up tactics by opposing players, but is often ignored by referees.

Lehmann slammed perennial Arsenal favourite referee Mike Riley for his conduct and the way he delt with the injuries to Cech and Cudicini: "The referee Mike Riley did not even whistle on Cudicini's foul and even asked Petr Cech to leave the pitch. Did he not know goalkeepers are allowed to be treated on the pitch?"

Lehmann also criticised English football philosophy, declaring that "you don't respect your keepers" and that "in other countries, I know referees offer more protection to keepers," a problem he has often criticised since moving from Borussia Dortmund in 2003.

Arsène Wenger also weighed his thoughts into the matter. Speaking ahead of Arsenal's match against CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Champions League these evening the boss said that one day a goalkeeper will be killed unless referees provide greater protection to the men between the sticks.

Wenger believes there is a real danger for Lehmann and his colleagues and states "it is no coincidence that Cech, his team-mate Carlo Cudicini, Newcastle's Shay Given and Mark Schwarzer of Middlesbrough have all suffered horrific injuries in the past six months."

"It's not that nobody can touch the keeper, but players should not be allowed to do things which are too dangerous," he added.

Despite all these concerns Jens Lehmann is, however, expected to start in goal tonight against CSKA Moscow anyway.

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