Arsenal News 24/7Writer: Rocky7 
Date:Wednesday October 24 2007
Time: 8:56AM
UK time is: 01:36:21
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'Mad Jens' Is Indeed Mad
So it's finally official, Mad Jens is certifiably.....well.....Mad.
As kick off loomed at Ashburton Grove last night, news broke that whilst Arsene Wenger was speaking pre-match in one room of the stadium, Jen Lehmann was having a quite ridiculous rant in another.
Speaking to the German press Lehmann suggested that Arsene Wenger was 'humiliating' him by keeping him on the bench and also questioned the standards of both Almunia & Fabianski.
Lehmann stated, 'It`s possible that some day I`ll feel like talking about the whole issue but at the moment I`m just swallowing it all as part of the humiliation. That`s something one has to take in. But I think, and this is aimed at my dear manager, one shouldn`t humiliate players for too long. I`m an Arsenal player and I won`t just fade away quietly.'
'Wenger spoke of three world class goalkeepers. One of them must be me. The other two have proved their class by winning titles? If I think about that, I can`t recall any. I guess today you`re nevertheless world class.'
I will always appreciate everything this eccentric German has done for the club, the unbeaten season, the record breaking ten consecutive clean sheets in the Champions League, the penalty saves from Paul Scholes and Juan Riquelme, the 'Ole eye opening' stop at Old Trafford, but all of these facts considered does not compensate for what Jens is doing now.
The business of football deals only in results, and if the form of one player begins to affect results then only one thing can happen. That player in particular is dropped. Now I'm certain that even the craziest of German's couldn't deny the fact that Lehmann dropped two of the largest clangers you're ever likely to see in two consecutive games at the beginning of the season, it is also true (as proved by Man Utd last term) that a bright start is as important to a successful season as an aggressive finish and a shaky goalkeeper that doesn't inspire confidence would invariably affect the rest of the team.
Despite the fact that I'm not still 100% certain of Almunia's credentials, Wenger's decision to pick the Spaniard ahead of the German has been vindicated by 12 consecutive wins with Almunia keeping goal in 11 of those games and racking up 8 clean sheets.
I predict a hasty exit for Lehmann come January.
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Your Comments
He's just signed his own death warrant. Wenger won't stand for this, he never has and frankly, there's no reason for Jens to play for us again.
Little Dutch
Well said. Lehmann should not think that his place is guaranteed just because he won titles before. World class player does the talking on the field not to the press.
Oldgun
To paraphrase the great Peter Griffin "What really grinds my gears" is that Lehmann thinks that he has in some way been humilated by being dropped, as if he is the first person ever to be benched. I'll tell you what humiliating is, acting like a 12 year old in front of 2 million people.
Rocky7
Wenger, of course, is ever the gentleman in handling the situation. Rocky, spot on, he humiliated himself. Check out this little gem from King Kolo, Lehmann would have done well to rather have a chat with his vice-captain than the media:
"There are players that have less skill than me and who are in the media much more. The most important thing for me is to do a good job. Like we say in Africa, you won't be able to hide the sun with your hand. My time will come, I know that. "
afri-gooner
It's degrading to his team mates to suggest he is being humiliated. He should be told not to come into work if he feels this way. One bad apple can upset the whole cart.
hatespur
Jens happens to be the oldest and most expereienced player in the squad, yet he is acting like the youngest. If he wants to be a spoiled brat, let him do it elsewhere!!!
Rocky7
Arsene's response to the question, posed on ITV after the game last night, spoke volumes. The smile (of the cold sort), the short reply, all said that's the end for Lehmann.»»Arsene Knows««
Wingston75
It seems we'll be having a keeper signed come January...
entropy13
Will it be Robert Green? :)
Oldgun
I thought the two clangers he dropped in August were pretty humiliating.
Little Dutch
This was probably going to be his last season anyway. He has been brilliant for us, as mentioned in the article (there was also that amazing save from Raul of Real Madrid in the second leg of the CL tie at Highbury en route to the Final), but this is definitely no way to treat Arsene Wenger. He should have realised that when he was dropped before, Wenger still brought him back to the team when Almunia started messing up. Now that's unlikely to happen...
Gooner_Vin
But those clangers were mistakes Tim, I can forgive that, because unless you're Bruce Grobbelar then they are just that, mistakes. But acting like a little bitch is unforgivable!!
Rocky7
Btw Mr Stillman, I didn't know you played Major League Baseball ...... http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/asu/sports/m-basebl/auto_headshot/p-Pedroia04.jpg
Rocky7
Blimey LD, 'tis thee! »»Arsene Knows««
Wingston75
LD, are you heading for The Arkles on Sunday? I'm gonna be up there well early I think.
hatespur
"and this is aimed at my dear manager" what the *****? Wenger always made clear why he's picking the team he's picking, and than this? I hope something went missing in translation, or he should ave a disclipinary about this.
afri-gooner
This i think is the clearest sign yet that he will leave in January.
AB_Arsenal
HS, he will be there as soon as he smashes a couple of homers against the Colarado Rockies!
Rocky7
When we signed Lehmann a while back a German friend told me that though he was a good keeper his brain doesn't work properly and isn't always connected to his mouth. To talk so dismissively of his fellow players is pretty inexcusable no matter how much he thinks of himself. It is his last season with us anyway but maybe it would now be better if he left sooner rather than later.
Amos.
I thought Wenger should've let him go this past summer anyway. Mad Jens was starting to lose the plot during the middle part of last year, including that ridiculous manuvor he pulled at Sheffield United last year that lead to our embarassing defeat. He was absolutely outstanding for us during the unbeaten year and the Champions League season, but plenty of other players who were also brilliant for us have long since departed, and since been replaced with players of similiar quality. And none of those departed players (even a certain left back...well, guess he did in his little book) talked **** about his current teamates while still wearing the jersey. Hopefully he's gone in January...we just don't need these antics.
Shinobi
lol, just looked at it Rocky. The fella only needs a big green coat and it's him. Did you 'google' LD lookielikies???:)
hatespur
Lmao - no, I like baseball and when I was watching the Red Sox - Indians game the other night I was astonished to see this geezer had Pedroia on the back of his shirt and not Stillman!!!
Rocky7
See ya Jens... I hear the spuds may be looking for a new keeper...
KaoTeK
Bugger, my doppelganger has been revealed :-) Might drop into the arkles, depends what time my coach rocks up, usually pretty early. I heard they'd banned away fans in there, but I saw plenty of Gooners in there back in march, so I guess I'd heard worng.
Little Dutch
I'll be there LD, you know who I am.
hatespur
live in the present not the past, lehmann WAS great but now he is a pain in the arsenal. sell him in jan to a german club, and continue our fine season with a more gentlemanly keeper almunia. humiliation are lehmann's antics when opponents crowd him at set pieces. only one keeper is more of a ***** than jens at the moment and his name is dida.
supersof
Pension him off. I'm sure there is a degree of alzheimers in there somewhere!
darinb007
Hope he leaves, i can't stand him, one of the most arrogant players ever to wear your shirt. He thinks he is some sort of world-class goalie, he makes some howling mistakes and has cost you lot plenty of points over the years! Having said that I hope he's in goal for Sunday!
RobbieGODFowler
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