Invincible, but he was a pretty crap 'keeper wasn't he?
Quite a few high profile mistakes with us, not least against Chelsea in the Champions League of 04 and his rash decision in the 06 final. His many losses of temper would have been funny if he weren't in goal for us - such as against Spurs in the game that won the title.
Before he joined us he had a disasterous spell at AC Milan, and after a good start at Dortmund including winning the Bundesliga, was pushed out.
His time as German #1 also had its bad moments.
Getting dropped for Almunia must be one of the biggest embarrassments a 'keeper could face.
Before I go, I will remember some of Jens finest moments. That save from Riquelmes penalty in the CL semi final, saving Paul Scholes penalty in the FA Cup final, a wonder save to deny Solskjaer in a rare win at Old Trafford. And, of course, his unbeaten first Premier League season.
For some, Jens will be the best 'keeper they have seen for Arsenal - a damning view for all that followed!
Jens Lehmann
posted on 19/4/20
David Seaman is the greatest keeper you've had in the last 30 years.
posted on 19/4/20
Thanks for that A-Rab.
posted on 19/4/20
He was a lunatic (as most keepers are according to Brazilians), but for all his mistakes, I never felt that he was the weakest link or the one holding the squad back. All goalies make mistakes, on small or big occasions. I still remember that one involving Seaman and a certain Brazilian youngster in the WC2002...
On the other hand it's pretty damning that we had worse squad players and keepers over the years and that Wenger never managed to put together a decent squad again. I wonder what he would have achieved at PSG or Madrid with basically unlimited resources.
posted on 19/4/20
Still better than almunia.
posted on 19/4/20
I'll always remember him for that hilarious bit of play acting him and Drogba got involved in.
posted on 19/4/20
Lehmann wasn't the best, but before he got dropped by Almunia, he still gave you some sort of confidence. Whether that was due to him taking no crap or generally making crucial saves, you knew at least he wasn't going to hide.
Almunia probably was a better shot stopper, but he never ever gave any sort of confidence to anyone, mainly because he never had any of himself
posted on 19/4/20
We can't speak about Lehmann's poor display in the '06 CL final without also mentioning his nightmare performance during our must-win last game at Highbury a week earlier.
I still remember the goalkeeping howler that initially took Wigan 2-1 up. A harmless freekick, miles away from goal, with Lehmann alone in no-man's-land and a wide open goal behind him. Allowing the Wigan player all the time in the world to pick his spot.
Good thing we had players like Henry to drag us from behind, and take full advantage of Spurs bottling their game.
In hindsight, we should have probably seen this as a prediction of Lehmann's disaster-class against Barca a week later, and benched him.
With that being said, I would still have him right behind Seaman as one of Arsenal's top keepers. Take away the odd goalkeeping clanger, and what you had was a fantastic keeper. Brilliant in the air, cracking reflexes, and one of the best throwing arms in the business.
posted on 19/4/20
^^ Found it. .
45 seconds in.
https://youtu.be/OEOh4VQEADA