Lehmann not expecting quick return to action

Jens Lehmann has admitted he is not expecting a quick return to the Arsenal side but insisted that, although he can hardly speak to replacement Manuel Almunia, there is no rift between the rival goalkeepers.

Lehmann was dropped for Arsenal’s game against Birmingham on December 4 and remained on the sidelines for the ensuing matches against Rosenborg and Chelsea.

His international place has been put in jeopardy by his omission from the Arsenal side, with the Premiership’s lack of a winter break also having ruled him out of Germany’s tour of the Far East.

And despite 27-year-old Almunia’s uncertain start to his Arsenal career, Lehmann is still not expecting an immediate return to the side against Portsmouth this weekend.

“At the moment I am expecting not to play. I have to accept the decision and live with it,” he declared.

“There are three possibilities to my future. Either I am going to play pretty soon, in the near future or never again. But I am a professional.

“I like living and being in London. I knew from the start that, in joining such a big club, I might be on the bench at some point. As for the match at Portsmouth on Sunday, we will see.”

But while Lehmann has been locked in an occasionally acrimonious rivalry with Oliver Kahn for some time at national level, he insists that, contrary to one recent report, his relationship with Almunia is good.

That is despite the fact the two keepers find it difficult to speak to each other as they do not share a common language.

Lehmann told the Evening Standard: “He (Almunia) is a nice guy and we get on well. But we never speak very much with each other. He could not speak English when he arrived and he is still learning. And I don’t speak Spanish.”

Lehmann will continue to fight to win his place back, although Almunia is now Arsenal’s first choice, with Thierry Henry having praised him for overcoming his error-strewn start to look rather more comfortable in the 2-2 draw against Chelsea.

Henry said: “It’s never easy. Everyone was talking about him after he played at Old Trafford but he made two great saves against Chelsea that kept us in the game.

“If he makes a mistake, then okay, there will be criticism. But if he does well, then you have to give credit.

“He has coped well with all the criticism, which is never easy to do when you have just arrived in a new country.”

Boss Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, added: “When I decided to stick with Manuel everyone thought I was crazy but he has shown good potential and it’s positive for him to have won the fans back.

“He came here without a big name, so of course the scepticism is always going to be there. You have to convince people you are good enough but I believe he has made one step towards doing that.”

Wenger has already pledged to keep faith with his two keepers, refusing to enter the January transfer window to sign a new first choice.

Indeed, Francesco Toldo’s agent, Claudio Pasqualin, today denied reports in Italy which had linked the Inter Milan keeper with a possible move to Manchester United or Arsenal.

“These are unsubstantiated rumours. I know nothing about Manchester or Arsenal. Toldo has another year on his contract with Inter and he wants to respect it,” Pasqualin told www.skyports.com.