Almunia welcomes new keeper signing / Wenger shrugs off Lehmann rant

Manager Arsène Wenger has shrugged off goalkeeper Jens Lehmann's outburst in midweek, saying that he understands where the German international is coming from but the relationship between the two remain professional.

Lehmann had an amazing rant in midweek when the Gunners were knocked out by Liverpool in the Champions League, saying that he was even more frustrated that he could not prevent the goals from going in.

Wenger said: "I have nothing personal with Jens and he has never been disrespectful to me in any training session or in any contact I have had with him.

"It will not affect whether I decide to play him.

"If you can find a player in the country who is happy not playing, then there is a problem."

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, who has been the preferred number one to Jens Lehmann this season, says that he has just about had enough with his team mate's outbursts and can't understand why he can't get over it.

Almunia said: "Every morning I wake up, I know it is going to be the same. I've had to put up with it every day since he was out of the team and even before then. I wake up and I know what it is going to be like.

"But I don't care about him any more. He can say what he likes. I come into training and I work with Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone. They are better goalkeepers than him anyway.

"It's his problem, not mine, and I don't see why I should try to talk to him about it. The truth is I don't want to talk to him. I came into training this morning and one of the press officers told me he had been saying bad things about me in the newspapers again.

"It didn't surprise me. The truth is I have got used to reading these things from him. If he was someone important to me, I would try to talk to him and see what the problem is. But he's not. So we don't talk.

"I've never been in a situation like this before in my career," he says. "Normally we goalkeepers have so much respect for each other. Why he doesn't respect me, I don't know. But I don't want any relationship with him. I try not to let what he says enter my mind because it's not important to me what he says or what he thinks.

"If another goalkeeper comes in he will be made welcome," he says. "I hope we can have a good atmosphere with all the goalkeepers working together. I signed my contract because my heart is with Arsenal."

User Comments

Chris

Posted on 17 Apr, 2008 at 07:47 AM - Reply

First of all I want to say, that I believe Lehmann is a much more better keeper than Almunia. But I have to say, that it is not O.K. that Lehmann shows no respect to Almunia! But what can the whole Arsenal squad can learn from the german keeper? The most important thing in Professional football is to win and not to have a good time or a nice haircut!!! Everybody should focus on this topic. All german football players show this attitude. So it is a little bit understandable how Lehmann react.

Tish

Posted on 13 Apr, 2008 at 02:37 PM - Reply

Jens needs to grow up and face the fact that sometimes those who are better are picked over those who aren't its life! What he shud be focussing on is getting his A game on in order to fight for a keeping space her or somewhere else! No one is #1 forever jens so get over it! As for Almunia, you have been outstanding this season and i hope that you continue to flourish, Ignore jens' frustration and focus on what matters, you're in first team so live it to its fullest. When you look back on this time remember it for all the right reasons!!!

Big ups to you man.

Iraqi Arsenalist

Posted on 12 Apr, 2008 at 09:52 PM - Reply

Lehmann is so much better than almunia, always been.I believe that with lehmann between the posts, arsenal plays better at the back, He's germany's number one for Gods sake!! who is almunia again? duh

Goonerheart

Posted on 12 Apr, 2008 at 05:57 PM - Reply

Almunia is such a wuss. Why he can't get over it? Because it suck to watch you playing crappy.
And if you really don't mind that Jens doesn't repect you, why do you keep on talking about him in every interview you give?

A team of kind people? Oh GOD! We will never win anything with those pansies.

Nikolas

Posted on 12 Apr, 2008 at 05:10 PM - Reply

Almunia really did inperessed me this season though. His reflexes are good and he catches the ball most of the time. better yet, he can still improve so we can expect better from him

Nikolas

Posted on 12 Apr, 2008 at 05:04 PM - Reply

Almunia really did inperessed me this season though. His reflexes are good and he catches the ball most of the time. better yet, he can still improve so we can expect better from him

Adam

Posted on 12 Apr, 2008 at 04:26 PM - Reply

Can someone please get rid of this guy.... The last thing we need is all this so called experinced player in the squad dicouraging the younger ones. Same with Gallas, i new his captainship was a major mistake. Gilberto should have gotten the armband, He is the only one dat still gat a braind in the head.

nzutu

Posted on 12 Apr, 2008 at 01:31 PM - Reply

whats up with this dude? he has passed his best, he should accept the fact that he is no longer no. 1

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