Almunia's nightmare return...
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Arsene Wenger in race against time to sign emergency keeper as Wojciech Szczesny is ruled out until end of April
Nightamre: Wojciech Szczesny is treated after dislocating his finger at Barcelona
Arsene Wenger is facing a goalkeeping crisis at Arsenal with Wojciech Szczesny expected to be sidelined for longer than first feared.
The Polish keeper dislocated his finger in the Champions League exit in Barcelona on Tuesday but it was initially hoped he wouldn't be out for long than two to three weeks.
However, boss Wenger has revealed that Szczesny is unlikely to return before the end of next month.
That will speed up his attempts to bring in a goalkeeper on an emergency loan move with Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone, who was on loan at Hull City, also crocked.
Wenger said: 'We need now an experienced goalkeeper as cover for Almunia because Mannone is out for six weeks so we cannot call on him.
'Mannone is here at the training ground having treatment but he cannot play for the next six weeks. We can call him back but he is not available.
'We have Wojciech out, in my opinion for six weeks. We have Fabianski out for the rest of the season. We need absolutely some cover in goal.'
Big chance: Manuel Almunia picks the ball out of the net after coming on at the Nou Camp
Wenger will now concentrate on signing an experienced back-up to Almunia. He is allowed to bring in someone on loan, or a free agent.
Almunia had looked set to leave Arsenal during the January transfer window, but the Spaniard now finds himself thrust back into the first-team picture ahead of Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final at Manchester United.
Wenger has been impressed with Almunia's approach to the situation. 'He is very professional, [has a] very dignified attitude and overall he has done very well,' the Arsenal boss said.
Injured: Vito Mannone is also sidelined for six weeks
'Yes, he has done quite well when he came on [against Barcelona] and was quite busy in the final part of the game and he did very well.'
Wenger does not expect any of his senior squad to be happy just warming the bench. 'When I took Jens Lehmann out, who [had] made only one mistake, and put Almunia in, Lehmann came in the next day and fought even harder,' said the Frenchman. 'That's what I believe our job is about.'
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look up injury in the dictionary and you will find the definition is arsenal
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Originally posted by mrwonderful:
look up injury in the dictionary and you will find the definition is arsenal
and Van Persie is made of glass, Fabregas is made of reinforced glass which is why he can last slightly longer than Van Persie.
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All the GK injuried at the same time.... very nice.
Thats 3 GK injuried! -
Lehmann to jump at chance to solve Arsenal's goalkeeping crisis
Jens Lehmann is hoping to convince Arsene Wenger he is the answer to Arsenal's goalkeeping crisis.
Lehmann, 41, left Arsenal three years ago and retired from football at the end of last season.
Welcomed with open arms: Jens Lehmann could solve Arsenal's keeper crisis
But the former Germany No 1 is back at the club for six weeks to complete his coaching badges and harbours hope of landing a short-term deal to cover for Manuel Almunia.
Wojciech Szczesny is out for six weeks with a finger injury and Lukasz Fabianski is out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. That could mean that re-signing Lehmann is an option, with choices for emergency loan targets limite.
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Arsenal ready to seal shock return for Jens Lehmann as former keeper prepares to sign emergency deal
Shock deal: Jens Lehmann is set to sign a short-term deal at Arsenal
Arsene Wenger is on the brink of handing Jens Lehmann an extraordinary comeback at Arsenal.
The German legend, 41, retired at the end of last season but he is ready to return to the game to solve the Gunners' goalkeeping crisis.
Lehmann is expected to sign a deal until the end of the season before Saturday's Barclays Premier League match against struggling West Bromwich Albion.
Manuel Almunia is currently the north London club's only fit senior keeper after long-term injuries to Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski. Vito Mannone, who is currently on loan at Hull, is also injured.
Lehmann spent five years with the Gunners and recently returned to the club's London Colney training base for a six-week coaching stint.
Asked if he would solve Wenger's search for an emergency stop-gap keeper in light of his current crisis, Lehmann replied: 'I am in London and so far have heard nothing of such plans, but you never know.'
Dropping like flies: Wojciech Szczesny (left) was replaced by Manuel Almunia in Barcelona
Lehmann, who made almost 200 appearances for Arsenal before leaving for Stuttgart in 2008, called time on his playing career but still maintains his fitness and would strongly consider a short-term contract proposal.
Last week Wenger admitted he knows who he wants to bring in as a temporary solution to his problem but make first gain acceptance from the Premier League.
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Desperate Arsene turns to Jens, 41
MANN SERVANT ... Jens Lehmann has agreed to step out of retirement for his old clubARSENE WENGER turned Arsenal's season into a farce last night when he moved for former Gunners keeper Jens Lehmann..The retired German, 41, who hates current Emirates keeper Manuel Almunia, is wanted to help solve the club's stopper crisis, with Polish duo Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski both crocked.
Yet boss Wenger's move to bring back Lehmann will stun the club's fans.
Lehmann was at Arsenal for five years before leaving for Stuttgart in 2008 after continually clashing with Almunia. He then quit the sport last summer.
The bizarre decision to re-sign Lehmann comes at the end of a nightmare two-week spell for Arsenal which has seen the club knocked out of the Carling Cup, Champions League and FA Cup.
Lehmann is set to sign for the rest of the season and could be in the squad for Saturday's trip to West Brom.
And he has promised he will not cause further problems with Spaniard Almunia.
Lehmann said: "I will help Almunia or whoever is in goal. I know I will be the keeper on the bench.
"There is no rivalry, that was three years ago. It's a different situation and it's great to be coming back."
Lehmann's problems with Almunia increased once he was edged out of the team.
In April 2008, shortly before Lehmann's exit, Almunia said: "To have someone here who hates me is amazing."
Lehmann, a key member of Arsenal's Invincibles from the 2003-04 season, has a reputation within the club for being slightly manic.
Almunia, likely to leave at the end of the season, is unlikely to be impressed.
Gunners defender Johan Djourou will miss the rest of the season with a dislocated shoulder, while skipper Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott are unlikely to be fit for the trip to the Hawthorns.
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Originally posted by Y_Shun:
All the GK injuried at the same time.... very nice.
Thats 3 GK injuried!Sounds like cons-piracy.
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Big ego lah this guy. Not a team player.
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Sounds disappointing to have a few keepers injured at the same time but at least their no.1 isn't injured...
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lolx if they can bring back seaman