Arsenal News 24/7Writer: Wingston 
Date:Friday October 19 2007
Time: 3:49PM
UK time is: 07:10:52
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Luk Who's Replaced Jens On Bench
'Mad' Jens Lehmann, owner of the slipperiest gloves in the world if his beginning to the season is anything to go by, has probably just got a whole lot madder,if he's finds out that he isn't even on the bench for the pitch battle that is the Bolton Trotters fixture this weekend.
Le Boss, newly-immortalised in Bronze, and now proud owner of a bust that is bigger and prouder than that of Jordan 'Katie Price' Jordan, has decided to promote our young Polish net custodian Lukasz Fabianski to the bench, with Manuel Almunia keeping his place between the sticks.
Arsene announced in his Friday press conference, which was reported by The Guardian:
Almunia will play and I have decided to stick with the same team and keep the continuity going.
In my opinion we have three world class keepers and only one of them can play. I have got 25 players in the squad and they all expect to play.
The player (Lehmann) is disappointed but there is a lot of competition for places. He is an intelligent guy and knows what he has to do.
Jens is a world class keeper but I had to make the choice for the continuity of the side.
So much for Jens' declaration that he expects to be back in the squad for the Bolton fixture. Looks like he\'s got a bit more proving to do...
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Your Comments
sweet as a nut. this is a benefit to team spirit. he will leave in January.
gazzap
If he's still a Gooner come February I'll be very surprised.
Little Dutch
Bring Buffon I say :)
WouldYouBelieveIt?!
I support this decision - leave Jens out for his attitude, if not performance. Some of his comments have been in poor taste.
prits
I hope Almunia replaces Jens on the bench...with Fabianski starting :D
Goofle
Sorry I cant agree with any of you here, Almunia should not be playing. He is, and always will be, well below Arsenal standard. if we're not playing Jens we should be playing Lukasz. In my opinion Almunia should be third choice.
Ozi Gooner
Agreed that MA shouldn't be first choice, he's had a few hairy moments this year. This seems to've set the tone re Jens, he'll be off in Jan now to keep his national jersey. Shame really, great memories and i am still convinced that he could've offered us a lot more this season
AFC85Lew
You left me in tears of laughter, Wingers, when you so craftly added "'mad' Jens...has probably just got a whole lot madder". OziG, in contrasting Jens' and Almunia's perfomance from this year, how can you lead to the conclusion that Almunia should not only be behind Lehmann but behind Fabianski while at it. I somewhat understand, in fact my heart begins to race everytime the ball gets any where near Almunia, but at the same time, i've been left applauding him quite a number of times.
Phantom of the Grove
Almunia's case is multifaceted. Although he does not transfuse confidence, he's done nothing wrong this season (albeit putting a stronger hand on Jones' header) and has cost us 0 (zero) pts. On the other hand, he is far from world class material, seemingly unstable and is yet to make a mark in a game by saving our undefeated arses. That said, he will need a couple of commanding, confident performances in the big games, to earn himself a bigger support amongst the Arsenal faithful. His position is as safe as Steve McC's England one. On the German front (scary phrase), I watched Ireland - Germany just because of Jens - and he put in a world class display which was only marred by a yellow card for time-wasting (which was actually turned out to be a good thing as the Germans were under a lot of pressure and moments like these helped them settle and regroup). He looked like the Jens of pre-2007/08, very focused and tidy and produced two world-class stops from the one I love to despise - Keane of sp*rs. Finally, it is a IMMENSE opportunity for Almunia which he needs to take. If he does keep his place for a couple of months - Jens is off in January. Since Jens is not even on the bench, I suspect he was quite 'upset' with the decision.
G4L
We probably haven't seen enough of Lehmann this season, and Fabianski overall, to form an opinion on who should play this week. I don't know about the "3 world class keepers" bit, but as always... Arsene Knows!
afri-gooner
I love how AW just sticks to his guns despite the player ego's...truly his decisions are for the benefit of the TEAM and not individuals. MacLaren could maybe learn a thing or two....
SUX2BU
By leaving Lampard out for Barry you mean?
AFC85Lew
lehmann shud be no.1, not convinced with alumnia yet but we shall see.
korodon
Jens can be on better form than Buffon but they way hes been running his mouth about fellow Arsenal players he doesnt even deserve to wear a red and white jersey.. hes unstable, unpredictable, and bad for moral.. he was great in the past, but hes going senile now and is past his sell by date..
ZAgooner
also dont think Wenger is going to tolerate his comments
ZAgooner
I still think that Jens is a better keeper but whatever AW thinks is best for the team is alright by me,
gunnerkid107
I reckon that, running thru the great man's mind, is team moral rather than who is the best keeper. Jens, as good as he is, can shoot his mouth off and really hammer the young guy's moral, and at this point AW isn't going to take a chance on that. It's just too good at the moment.
darinb007
I think he would of been back in the number 1 position if he had of been more mature in his time out injured.
AB_Arsenal
just goes to show no one is "above" the team, even for all his past contributions jens is not "guaranteed" a place. if he thinks he deserves it, then he needs to earn it. i say well done to wenger, lets give almunia a fair chance cos lets face it, he hasnt costed us points yet. so why drop him???
supersof
I dont get it... if it wasnt for the mad one we'd have won all our games so far, but many of you want him back? Ive not seen anything to suggest that Almunia deserves to loose his place, and in my eyes the defence seen much more comfortable with him in goal... I know Jens can pull out fantastic saves, but he's just too unpredictable to rely on... IMO its so long and thanks for all the fish Mr Lehman...
KaoTeK
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